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The time of the year, when football teams head out to different countries and continents to play friendlies against foreign teams as part of their preseason tour, is upon us. Pre-season games are important, not just for the players to regain their fitness and confidence before their gruelling domestic and continental leagues begin, but also for the managers to test out different formations and strategies.In this slideshow, we look at the respective pre-season fixtures of the top European clubs –
#1 Chelsea
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After a dominating 2014-15 season wherein the Blues bagged the Premier League and League Cup double, the champions travel to North America to take part in the International Champions Cup.
With Mourinho looking to keep his current crop of stars for the next season, Chelsea haven't been too active in the transfer window so far, only acquiring the services of former Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, and Manchester United reject Radamel Falcao, the latter arriving on a season-long loan.
Chelsea also play Arsenal in the Community Shield at Wembley, a week before the Premier League kicks off.
| Date | Opponent | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| July 23 | New York Red Bulls | International Champions Cup |
| July 25 | PSG | International Champions Cup |
| July 29 | Barcelona | International Champions Cup |
| August 2 | Arsenal | Community Shield (Wembley) |
#2 Arsenal
Arsenal had a decent 2014-15 campaign, ending the Premier League in third place and managing to win the FA Cup, thrashing Aston Villa 4-0 in the final. The Gunners will be looking to improve this season and have made an important signing in the form of Petr Cech. However, more signings are expected and necessary if Arsenal are to challenge for the Premier League title.
Arsenal travel to Asia to compete in the Barclays Asia Trophy. They also participate in the Emirates Cup and play Chelsea in the Community Shield.
| Date | Opponent | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| July 15 | Singapore XI | Barclays Asia Trophy |
| July 18 | Everton/Stoke | Barclays Asia Trophy |
| July 25 | Lyon | Emirates Cup |
| July 26 | Wolfsburg | Emirates Cup |
| August 2 | Chelsea | Community Shield (Wembley) |
#3 Manchester United
Not content with a fourth place finish in the 2014-15 season, Manchester United have gone all out in purchasing new talent in order to strengthen their squad and challenge for the title. The Red Devils have bought Matteo Darmian, Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin, and the vastly experienced Bastian Schweinsteiger. If Louis van Gaal manages to get the best out of his players, United will truly be a force to be reckoned with.
United travel to North America to play in the International Champions Cup, where they face opponents of the calibre of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
| Date | Opponent | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| July 18 | Club America | International Champions Cup |
| July 21 | San Jose Earthquakes | International Champions Cup |
| July 25 | Barcelona | International Champions Cup |
| July 30 | PSG | International Champions Cup |
#4 Liverpool
Liverpool’s 2014-15 campaign was rather underwhelming, and the loss of Luis Suarez coupled with Daniel Sturridge’s injury meant that a lion’s share of their goals was lost. They finished 6th in the Premier League and performed poorly in the Champions League as well, crashing out in the group stages.
Brendan Rodgers has completed the signings of Danny Ings, James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Nathaniel Clyne, Joe Gomez and Adam Bogdan, but the loss of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City will rob them of a strong talent.
Liverpool play many friendlies as part of their pre-season tour, travelling to Asia, Australia and Finland.
| Date | Opponent | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| July 14 | Thai Premier League All Stars | Friendly |
| July 17 | Brisbane Roar | Friendly |
| July 20 | Adelaide United | Friendly |
| July 24 | Malaysia XI | Friendly |
| August 1 | HJK Helsinki | Friendly |
#5 Manchester City
Manchester City ended a disappointing campaign last season, finishing second in the Premier League and without winning any major trophy. They will be looking to win the PL in the 2015-16 season, and the signing of Raheem Sterling from Liverpool will definitely help bolster their squad.
A few more signings seem to be on the horizon, and it will be interesting to see how City fare in the next season. City travel to Australia to participate in the International Champions Cup.
| Date | Opponent | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| July 21 | Roma | International Champions Cup |
| July 24 | Real Madrid | International Champions Cup |
#6 Real Madrid
Real Madrid, by their standards, had a largely disappointing 2014-15 season, ending the year in 2nd place in the La Liga, and not managing to win any major trophy apart from the UEFA Supercup and the FIFA Club World Cup. They will be looking to make a fresh start this season under their new coach Rafael Benitez.
With Danilo as their only signing so far, and following the departure of their legend Iker Casillas, Real Madrid would do well to sign more players to compete on all fronts. For their pre-season tour, Madrid travel to Australia, China and are also going to play a friendly in Europe.
| Date | Opponent | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| July 18 | Roma | International Champions Cup |
| July 24 | Manchester City | International Champions Cup |
| July 27 | Inter Milan | Friendly |
| July 30 | AC Milan | Friendly |
| August 5 | European Team (TBA) | Friendly |
#7 Barcelona
Barcelona had the perfect 2014-14 season, managing to win the holy treble of trophies and destroying teams throughout Europe. With a lethal trio of attacking talent, a fluent midfield, and a strong defence, Barcelona showed the world what true champions are made of.
With their current plethora of talent, the team looks good as it is, and having signed the formidable Arda Turan from Atletico Madrid and Aleix Vidal from Sevilla, the Catalans are assured of more trophies in the coming season.
For their pre-season, they will travel to North America to take part in the International Champions Cup and will also play a couple of friendlies in Italy and Spain.
| Date | Opponent | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| July 22 | Los Angeles Galaxy | International Champions Cup |
| July 25 | Manchester United | International Champions Cup |
| July 29 | Chelsea | International Champions Cup |
| August 2 | Fiorentina | Friendly |
| TBA | TBA | Joan Gamper Trophy |
#8 Juventus
Juventus had a respectable 2014-15 season, winning the Scudetto for the fourth straight year, and the Coppa Italia although they lost out on the coveted Champions League trophy to Barcelona in the final.
With the loss of important players Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo to Boca Juniors and New York City FC respectively, Massimiliano Allegri has gone out and signed suitable replacements Paulo Dybala, Sami Khedira, Mario Mandzukic, Roberto Pereyra and Simon Zaza.
Juventus travel to Switzerland and France for their preseason friendlies.
| Date | Opponent | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| July 25 | Borussia Dortmund | Friendly |
| August 1 | Marseille | Friendly |
#9 Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich only won a single trophy last season; the Bundesliga and this, for a club of Munich’s status, was a disappointment. Bayern were humbled in the semi-finals of the Champions League by eventual winners Barcelona, and will be looking to win more this season.
Guardiola has signed Douglas Costa from Shakhtar Donetsk but having lost club legend Bastian Schweinsteiger to Manchester United, Bayern would do well to make a replacement signing.
They travel to China to play some friendlies as part of the Audi Summer Tour and also participate in the Telekom Cup and the Audi Cup.
| Date | Opponent | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| July 12 | Borussia Monchengladbach | Telekom Cup |
| July 18 | Valencia | Friendly |
| July 21 | Inter Milan | Friendly |
| July 23 | Guanghzou Evergrande | Friendly |
| August 1 | Wolfsburg/Borussia Dortmund | DFL Supercup |
| August 4-5 | Real Madrid (other teams TBA) | Audi Cup |
| August 17 | Dynamo Dresden | Charity friendly |
#10 Borussia Dortmund
2014-15 was a largely forgettable season for Borussia Dortmund as the club had to fight back from the relegation zone in the first half of the campaign and ended up finishing 7th in the league. Losing to Wolfsburg in the DFB Pokal final didn't help either.
A fresh start in the coming season with new coach Thomas Tuchel, along with new signings Gonzalo Castro, Roman Burki and Julian Weigl might help Dortmund perform much better than the previous season.
Borussia Dortmund travelled to Asia and will also go to Switzerland for their preseason friendlies.
| Date | Opponent | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| July 3 | VfL Rhede | Friendly |
| July 4 | Team Gold | Friendly |
| July 7 | Kawasaki Frontale | Friendly |
| July 9 | Johor Darul Ta’zim | Friendly |
| July 17 | VfL Bochum | Friendly |
| July 21 | FC Luzern | Friendly |
| July 25 | Juventus | Friendly |
