Real Madrid to face LA Galaxy

Newly crowned La Liga champions Real Madrid will face the reigning MLS champions LA Galaxy in a high-profile pre-season friendly as part of the World Football Challenge match on August 2 at The Home Depot Center in California.

Galaxy’s Chief Operating Officer, Chris McGowan, told the club’s official website:

“We are excited to give our fans a chance to see the Galaxy take on one of the best clubs in the world in Real Madrid. This will be a tremendous event for Southern California soccer fans, especially with the opportunity to see this game in such an intimate setting as The Home Depot Center.

“It will truly be one of the must-see sporting events of the year.”

The hype will be around former Real Madrid star David Beckham facing his old club. However, there is a chance that the 37 year old might miss the match. Beckham is under consideration for one of the three over-age spots on the Great Britain squad that will compete at this summer’s Olympics in the UK. If selected, he’ll be in Cardiff on August 1st as Britain closes out the group stage against Uruguay.

The match will mark the fourth time that the Galaxy have locked horns with Madrid, with their first friendly encounter coming in 2005. Real Madrid have won on each occasion, besting L.A., 2-0 in 2005, 3-2 in 2010 and 4-1 last year. Madrid was eventually declared the winner of the 2011 version after defeating L.A., the Philadelphia Union and Chivas de Guadalajara of Mexico.

Other clubs participating in the WFC this summer include Liverpool, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Seattle Sounders and New York Red Bulls.

MLS also announced that Chelsea will add two games to its WFC commitment. They will face France’s Paris Saint-Germain on July 22 at the Yankee Stadium and then AC Milan at Sun Life Stadium in Miami on July 28 in addition to their already planned itinerary of facing the Seattle Sounders on July 18 and MLS All-Star Game on July 25 at the Union’s PPL Park.