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Club friendlies

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The gist

Real Madrid beat Deportivo La Coruña 1-0 in a friendly on Wednesday. Clubs use friendlies to test squads and build momentum before the season.

Background

Club friendlies are pre-season matches where teams prepare for the upcoming league campaign. These games allow managers to experiment with lineups, integrate new signings, and build fitness. The matches are often played in different venues and are part of clubs' summer tours.

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 8, 2026Manchester United played Paris Saint-Germain in a pre-season friendly in Gothenburg, Sweden.
  2. Aug 12, 2026Manchester United faced Leeds United at Croke Park in Dublin, a historic venue for club football in Ireland.
  3. Aug 16, 2026Several friendlies are scheduled, including Schalke 04 vs Real Madrid, Newcastle vs Strasbourg, and AC Milan vs Manchester United.

Who’s saying what

Analysts
Friendlies are crucial for testing tactics and giving new signings playing time.

Sources

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