The best pre-season games you need to watch this week
- Pre-season games in full swing as clubs prepare for the 2024/25 season
- El Clasico is on the horizon while Premier League giants will meet in the US
- Pep Guardiola will also reunite with one of his former clubs
Pre-season games have taken over the summer football schedule and fans and pundits alike are already making sweeping judgements about how teams will fare in 2024/25 on the basis of their friendly results.
Arsenal's victory over Manchester United was one of the first meetings between Premier League clubs taking place in the United States, but there's a load more action coming to American audiences and beyond over the next week or so.
With that in mind, here are the pre-season fixtures taking place imminently and the ungodly times they are due to kick off.
1. Man City vs Barcelona
Date: Wednesday 31 July
Kick-off time (BST): 00:00
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, United States
TV channel/live stream: CITY+, Premier Sports Player, Premier Sports 1(UK) / ESPN+, fuboTV, ESPN App, CITY+, ESPN, ESPN Deportes (US)
It's set to a familiar affair for Pep Guardiola when his Premier League champions Manchester City take on former club Barcelona in Orlando.
City's results over the summer have been less than optimal so far, recording losses to Celtic and Milan, and their manager has even voiced his concern that his team could start the upcoming season undercooked due to their many absences after Euro 2024 and the Copa America.
Barca are also without a number of first-team stars due to injuries, but City's games have yielded 12 goals so far and another entertaining spectacle should be in store.
2. Tottenham vs K-League XI
Date: Wednesday 31 July
Kick-off time (BST): 12:00
Location: Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea
TV channel/live stream: SpursPlay (UK) / fuboTV, CBS Sports Network (US)
Tottenham Hotspur have had a pretty good time of it in pre-season so far, coming up with wins against Hearts, Queen Park Rangers and Vissel Kobe.
They've since left Japan and traveled to South Korea, the homeland of captain Son Heung-min. There Ange Postecoglou's side will take on a K-League XI filled with the best players the division has to offer.
One of those could be Yang Min-hyuk, whose move to Tottenham was confirmed over the weekend, adding extra intrigue to this friendly.
3. Arsenal vs Liverpool
Date: Thursday 1 August
Kick-off time (BST): 00:30
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, United States
TV channel/live stream: LFCTV, arsenal.com (UK) / ESPN+, ESPN App, ESPN, fuboTV (US)
Arsenal have already seen off Manchester United during their stateside excursions and are now hoping for more of the same ahead of their next friendly with Liverpool.
The Gunners grabbed victory over the Red Devils thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, despite stars like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and William Saliba all being absent.
Arne Slot earned his first win as Reds manager against Real Betis and this fixture should be an excellent acid test to see where his side are with around three weeks left before Premier League action restarts.
4. Milan vs Real Madrid
Date: Thursday 1 August
Kick-off time (BST): 01:30
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, United States
TV channel/live stream: Premier Sports Player, Premier Sports 1(UK) / ESPN+, ESPN App (US)
Real Madrid won't have Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham with them on their own tour of the US but there is still a litany of stars ready to make an impression on manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Like Guardiola, he will take on a former side of his when Los Blancos meet Serie A giants Milan, fresh from beating Man City 3-2, in Chicago.
It's shaping up to be another successful Madrid season but it'll be interesting to see how some of their reserve options do against the Italians, who have enjoyed more game time over the summer so far.
5. Tottenham vs Bayern Munich
Date: Saturday 3 August
Kick-off time (BST): 12:00
Location: Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea
TV channel/live stream: SpursPlay (UK) / fuboTV, CBS Sports Network (US)
Tottenham have lined up two friendlies with dethroned German champions Bayern Munich but it looks like England captain Harry Kane is going to miss both of them as he rests up after Euro 2024.
Spurs will also get to catch up with Eric Dier following his move to Bavaria, with this fixture once again taking place at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
New Bayern manager Vincent Kompany has a big task on his hands this season and a win in South Korea would put his head in a good place ahead of 2024/25.
6. Chelsea vs Man City
Date: Saturday 3 August
Kick-off time (BST): 22:30
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, United States
TV channel/live stream: chelsea.com, CITY+ (UK), ESPN+, ESPN App, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, fuboTV (US)
A draw with Wrexham and a ridiculous defeat to Celtic haven't got Chelsea fans dreaming of success under Enzo Maresca in 2024/25. Sure, it's still early days, but upcoming clashes with Man City, Real Madrid and Inter could get really ugly quickly if the Blues aren't careful.
A lack of concentration cost them dear in a 4-1 defeat to the Scottish champions over the weekend and City won't pass up opportunities to rattle goals in if offered the chances, even with plenty of players not currently in the squad.
7. Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Date: Sunday 4 August
Kick-off time (BST): 00:00
Location: MetLife Stadium, New York, Unites States
TV channel/live stream:
Football fans can't get enough of El Clasico. Not all the stars will be present when Barcelona and Madrid collide once again in New York, but it's bound to be a tempestuous encounter.
Barca are looking to reestablish themselves this season after a poor 2023/24 under Xavi Hernandez, but Hansi Flick has his work cut out for him to get a result against Los Blancos.
Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Gavi are among those who haven't toured, while Vinicius Junior, Endrick and Rodrygo could be available again.
8. Liverpool vs Man Utd
Date: Sunday 4 August
Kick-off time (BST): 00:30
Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina, United States
TV channel/live stream: LFCTV, MUTV (UK) / ESPN+, ESPN App, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, fuboTV (US)
Manchester United will be battling Real Betis around the time that Arsenal and Liverpool are duking it out, meaning both sides should be well prepped for their meeting in South Carolina on Sunday.
The two clubs are renowned English rivals and tensions are likely to be high once again at Williams-Brice Stadium as Erik ten Hag and Slot continue their fine-tuning before their final pre-season outings.
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