Top 7 club friendlies to watch this pre-season

#5 Real Madrid vs Manchester United (31st July)

Los Blancos and the Red Devils have another date in the ICC

This is turning out to be a regular event now. Real Madrid and Manchester United first met in the ICC in 2014, then again in 2017 before the UEFA Supercup clash just weeks later. Now another year later, here they go again. But this time, there's no Cristiano Ronaldo to add to the frenzy.

This fixture would normally carry the intrigue of watching the Portuguese ace going against his former side, yet, the Madrid fans would at least see new manager Julen Lopetegui preside over his first ever game.

The Spaniard succeeded Zinedine Zidane last month, just days before the start of Spain's World Cup campaign and would get his Real Madrid tenure off against the Red Devils in a friendly game in Miami.

Lopetegui is a strong purveyor of possession-based football and also known to promote young blood. This game would nothing but give a small glimpse of the same as well as find out what role exactly would Gareth Bale have under his tutelage, now that Ronaldo is gone.

As for Jose Mourinho, he isn't known to take these games too seriously. But after a trophyless campaign last term, he would be compelled to hit back stronger this season and the pre-season presents an opportunity to work out his new tactics and strategies. Starting with this game.