Real Madrid vs Juventus

Rose Bowl is the venue as Real Madrid and Juventus lock horns in a mouth-watering pre-season encounter.

After reclaiming La Liga supremacy and racking up a record-extending 14th Champions League title last season, Real Madrid have run out of steam. ‘Los Merengues’ fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona in their opening pre-season friendly before being held to an action-packed 2-2 draw to Liga MX outfit Club America last time out. Unlike some previous years, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have been relatively quiet in the summer transfer window. Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger are the only players to have moved to Santiago Bernabeu this summer. Connoisseurs of high-scoring affairs may want to skip this one, given that five of Madrid’s last six matches have featured under 2.5 goals, highlighting the potential for a low-scoring match-up.

Meanwhile, Juventus’ United States Tour got off to a flying start, courtesy of a 2-0 triumph over Chivas Guadalajara that saw them score on either side of halftime. Massimiliano Allegri’s side hit back twice to hold Barcelona to a 2-2 draw last time out as star defender Gleison Bremer made his debut following his mega-money switch from Torino. Bremer’s arrival should help ‘I Bianconeri’ address the defensive woes that have seen them concede precisely twice in five of their last six outings. However, marquee summer signing Paul Pogba has sustained a knee injury that could force him to a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Pogba’s absence could hinder Juve’s bid to defy an underwhelming four-game H2H record versus Madrid (W1, L3).

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New York Red Bulls vs Barcelona

Red Bull Arena is the venue as New York Red Bulls and Barcelona go head-to-head in their first-ever pre-season meeting.

New York Red Bulls come into this encounter off the back of a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Orlando City in the US Open Cup. New York’s dismal spell of form has seen them win just one of their last four outings (D1, L2), netting under 1.5 goals in all three matches they didn’t win. But before succumbing to a narrow 1-0 loss to cross-town rivals New York City in their most recent home fixture, they had won five consecutive home games, netting 2+ goals on each occasion. That, coupled with the fact they have not conceded more than once across their last six home contests, suggests they won’t roll over against more heavily fancied Barcelona.

In the meantime, a raft of high-profile summer signings, including Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Franck Kessie & Jules Kounde, has inspired Barcelona’s solid pre-season showings. Before drawing 2-2 with Juventus last time out, the ‘Blaugrana’ had won their opening two United States Tour fixtures by an aggregate score of 7-0, including a 6-0 thumping of New York’s fellow MLS rivals Inter Miami. Overall, Xavi Hernandez’s men have picked up three victories from five pre-season outings this summer (D2), averaging 2.6 goals per game. That’s a noticeable upturn in form compared to the tail-end of last season, where Barcelona went winless in their final two La Liga matches without scoring (D1, L1).

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Viktoria Berlin vs Bochum

Friedrich Ludwig Jahn Sportpark is the venue as lower-league side Viktoria Berlin and Bundesliga outfit Bochum go head-to-head in the opening DFB Pokal round.

A thoroughly underwhelming 2021/22 3. Liga season saw Viktoria Berlin suffer relegation to Germany’s fourth tier, finishing just three points adrift of safety. But after going winless in their opening two pre-season friendlies, they have won back-to-back exhibition fixtures to bolster their spirits ahead of a curtain-raising DFB Pokal clash against Bochum. Viktoria Berlin’s showings in competitive home matches in 2022 have flattered to deceive, as Farat Toku’s men have picked up just two victories from nine such contests (D2, L5). More importantly, Viktoria’s lacklustre defending has seen them keep only one clean sheet in that nine-game sequence, casting doubt on their ability to fend off top-flight opposition Bochum.

Meanwhile, visiting Bochum defied every expectation in their first Bundesliga season since 2009/10 last term to secure survival with a few games to spare. The visitors’ exhausting pre-season campaign featured just two defeats from nine exhibition fixtures (W5, D2), suggesting they have stayed on the right path. Interestingly, since a 1-1 draw away to Stuttgart in mid-February, ‘Die Unabsteigbaren’ have alternated between losing (3) and winning (2) across their subsequent five competitive road trips. Each game won/lost during that period saw the winner net 2+ goals, highlighting the importance of the prolificacy in the front third. That’s particularly significant for Bochum, as they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 competitive away games.

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Jahn Regensburg vs Cologne

Jahnstadion Regensburg plays host to an intriguing DFB Pokal first-round tie between Jahn Regensburg and Cologne.

It has been a stellar start to the new 2. Bundesliga season for Jahn Regensburg, as they have won both opening league matches by an aggregate score of 5-0. Equally impressive in both halves of play, they have found the back of the net in all four halves of second-tier football played thus far. Despite entering this fixture as betting underdogs, Regensburg will be confident about beating the odds, as they did last season when a penalty shoot-out triumph squeezed them past Cologne in the DFB Pokal fourth round. A 2-2 stalemate in the regulation time also marked the only draw between these two sides across five competitive H2Hs (W1, L3), all of which featured over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring.

On the other hand, Cologne may have capped off the 2021/22 Bundesliga season with a pair of single-goal margin defeats. Yet, they defied the odds to secure the Europa Conference League qualification spot. The visitors’ decent pre-season saw them lose just one of their six warm-up fixtures (W4, D1). With none of Cologne’s last five competitive away games ending a level (W3, L2), the Jahnstadion Regensburg faithful could be in for a ‘winner takes all’ contest within 90 minutes. Despite their mixed fortunes across their most recent competitive travels, the ‘Billy Goats’ will be confident about putting at least a couple of goals past Regensburg, as has been the case in all three previous visits to the Jahnstadion Regensburg.

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Tottenham Hotspur vs Roma

Haifa’s Sammy Ofer Stadium forms the backdrop for a handsomely-looking pre-season showdown between Tottenham Hotspur and Roma.

After navigating mid-table Tottenham to an unexpected top-four Premier League finish last term, manager Antonio Conte has put his stamp on the squad he inherited from Nuno Espirito Santo in November 2021. In order to compete higher up the Premier League table next season, ‘Spurs’ have completed the signings of Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic, Clement Lenglet and Richralison this summer. More importantly, the Londoners have yet to lose a single pre-season fixture. After a 6-3 thumping of the K-League All-Stars in their opening summer friendly, they shared the spoils with Sevilla in an uneventful 1-1 draw. Yet, they head into proceedings on the back of a come-from-behind 2-1 triumph over last season’s beaten Europa League finalists Rangers.

In the meantime, Roma strung together a brace of 2-0 victories to start their pre-season preparations with a bang following last season’s historic Europa Conference League success. However, Jose Mourinho’s men have since seemingly run out of steam, going winless in three consecutive exhibition matches in the build-up to this encounter (D1, L2). Roma’s underwhelming spell of form is unlikely to hinder Mourinho’s desire to settle the score with Tottenham, who sacked him after just over a year in charge back in 2021. Regardless of the outcome, this should be an action-packed contest in Israel, as both previous summer H2Hs between Tottenham and Roma have seen 4+ goals and both teams scoring (W1, L1).

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Dynamo Dresden vs Stuttgart

Last season’s Bundesliga strugglers Stuttgart head to the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion to take on third-tier side Dynamo Dresden in the opening DFB Pokal round.

Dynamo Dresden’s thoroughly disappointing 2021/22 Bundesliga 2 campaign saw them suffer relegation to Germany’s third tier, and things have not improved since. After blowing hot and cold across their four pre-season fixtures (W2, L2), Markus Anfang’s men succumbed to a 4-3 home defeat to Munich 1860 in their opening league match this season, conceding precisely twice in each half. Dresden last faced Stuttgart in competitive action in the 2019/20 Bundesliga 2 season, losing both meetings by a two-goal margin. On top of that, they have only won one of their three previous league H2Hs as hosts (D1, L1), with both games won/lost in that sequence coming ‘to nil’ and seeing the winner score 2+ goals.

In the meantime, Stuttgart avoided the drop from the Bundesliga by the skin of their teeth last season, as nothing but a superior H2H record over Hertha BSC prevented them from entering the dreaded relegation playoffs. ‘Die Schwaben’ look to have taken an abysmal 2021/22 season personally, as they won all four pre-season outings by an aggregate score of 17-6, netting 3+ goals in three of them. However, since the calendar year flipped to 2021, Stuttgart have gone winless in all nine competitive away matches (D5, L4), conceding over 1.5 goals in five. It’s also worth noting that they’ve failed to score in two of their last three competitive road trips.

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Kaan-Marienborn vs Nurnberg

Leimbachstadion is the venue as Kaan-Marienborn and Nurnberg go head-to-head in the 2022/23 DFB Pokal first-round tie.

Non-league side Kaan-Marienborn pulled off a sensational second-half comeback in the preliminary DFB Pokal round to turn a 1-0 halftime deficit into a 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach II, courtesy of Daniel Hammel’s brace in the stoppage time. Following a poor start to their pre-season preparations, involving three winless friendlies (D1, L2), Thorsten Nehrbauer’s men have gone from strength to strength, winning three consecutive matches, including the abovementioned DFB Pokal triumph. When it comes to competitive games, Kaan-Marienborn have not lost a single one in 2022 thus far (W9, D6), winning four out of the last five despite conceding in each.

As for Nurnberg, a 2-0 triumph over fellow Bundesliga 2 rivals Greuther Furth last time out helped them overcome a disappointing 3-2 defeat to St Pauli in their 2022/23 curtain-raiser. Delivering action from the offset, both Nurnberg’s league outings this season have featured the opening goal within 25 minutes of playing, highlighting the potential for a quick-fire start to this encounter. However, if ‘Die Legende’ are to live up to their status as overwhelming pre-match favourites, they will have to defy an abysmal five-game winless away run in competitive away games (D2, L3) spanning back to the tail-end of last season. Worryingly, though, Nurnberg’s lackadaisical defending saw them concede precisely three goals in three of those five road trips.

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Liverpool vs Manchester City

Leicester City’s King Power Stadium forms the backdrop for a blockbuster Community Shield showdown between Liverpool and Manchester City.

Liverpool’s last Community Shield success dates back to 2006, with the ‘Reds’ losing both subsequent appearances in the showpiece event, including a disheartening penalty shoot-out defeat to Man City in 2019. However, only Manchester United (21) and Arsenal (16) have more Community Shield titles under their belt than Liverpool (15). Keen to avenge last season’s Premier League heartbreak that crushed their quadruple dream, Jurgen Klopp will be looking to extend his side’s three-game unbeaten H2H streak across all competitions (W1, D2). Despite losing long-serving stalwart Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich, the Merseysiders will feel safe and sound on the back of Darwin Nunez’s £85m arrival from Benfica. Nunez’s poker of second-half goals in a scintillating 5-0 romping of RB Leipzig in a pre-season fixture promises great things in the future.

In the meantime, Manchester City pulled off an out-of-this-world second-half comeback to beat Aston Villa 3-2 on the final day of last Premier League season to retain domestic supremacy, courtesy of a single-point lead on runners-up Liverpool. Despite overseeing his side score a staggering 150 goals across all competition last season, manager Pep Guardiola opened his checkbook to sign the world’s most promising striker Erling Haaland this summer. Only 12 minutes into his Man City debut, the Norwegian prodigy netted a winning goal over familiar foes Bayern Munich in a mouth-watering pre-season friendly. Haaland’s attacking impact could have a significant bearing on this fixture, as the last three meetings between Liverpool and Man City featured 4+ goals.

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Udinese vs Chelsea

Dacia Arena is the venue as Udinese and Chelsea go head-to-head in an exciting pre-season friendly.

Following a decent mid-table finish in the 2021/22 Serie A season, Udinese have handed over the managerial reins to former Ascoli boss Andrea Sottil at the expense of last season’s interim manager Gabriele Cioffi. ‘I Friulani’ launched their pre-season preparations with an overwhelming 11-0 win over Austrian non-league outfit Lienz but have since seemingly run out of steam. Sottil’s men have since picked up just two victories from five off-season fixtures (D1, L2), five of which featured over 2.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet. Interestingly, their last three exhibition matches have yielded an identical 2-1 scoreline (W1, L2).

On the other hand, back from a disappointing United States Tour, Chelsea will be looking to find their feet on European soil. Thomas Tuchel’s side outscored Liga MX powerhouse Club America 2-1 in their opening pre-season friendly but have since gone winless in back-to-back outings (D1, L1). After a 1-1 draw with MLS side Charlotte, the ‘Pensioners’ suffered an embarrassing 4-0 defeat to fierce cross-town rivals Arsenal last time out. Excluding their pre-season tour in the US, Tuchel’s men have only won one of their previous three matches on hostile turf (D1, L1), netting under 1.5 goals in both games they failed to win.

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Munich 1860 vs Borussia Dortmund

Grunwalder Stadion forms the backdrop as Munich 1860 and Borussia Dortmund lock horns in their inaugural 2022/23 DFB Pokal round.

Despite falling narrowly short of 3. Liga playoff spots last season, Munich 1860 look determined to do one better this term, as witnessed by an action-packed 4-3 win away to Dynamo Dresden on the opening league weekend. Interestingly, Munich 1860 capped off a decent 2021/22 season with an overwhelming 6-3 victory over Borussia Dortmund II. But this is a different kind of challenge, as ‘Die Lowen’ go up against tradition here. Since a narrow 1-0 home triumph in 2001, they have lost seven consecutive meetings with Dortmund across all competitions, including a 2-0 extra-time defeat in their most recent encounter in the DFB Pokal last-32.

On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund head into proceedings off the back of back-to-back pre-season defeats to Villarreal and Valencia, both of which came by multi-goal margins. Dortmund’s underwhelming pre-season form could go down to the heartbreaking departure of Erling Haaland for Manchester City. Despite landing several decent forward options over the summer, new boss Edin Terzic will face the arduous task of helping Dortmund improve upon last season’s runner-up finish in the Bundesliga. A potential victory in this seemingly straightforward task would bolster Borussia’s spirits ahead of another top-flight season. And after losing just one of their last nine competitive away games (W5, D3), ‘Die Borussen’ will feel confident about strolling to another cup success here.

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Olyimpiacos vs Maccabi Haifa

Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium forms the backdrop as Olympiacos and Maccabi Haifa go head-to-head in the return leg of their evenly-poised Champions League second qualifying round tie.

Despite holding a slender 1-0 lead until deep inside the stoppage time, Olympiacos had to settle for an underwhelming 1-1 draw in their first leg in Israel. The Greek champions have heavily struggled with inconsistent performances this summer, picking up just two wins from eight pre-season fixtures (D2, L4). Furthermore, they have racked up only one triumph from their last four competitive home outings (D2, L1 – 90mins only), casting doubt on their hopes of reaching the Champions League third qualifying round for the fourth season on the trot. Pedro Martins’ men have also lost two of their last three European home matches (W1), conceding 2+ goals in each defeat. There’s no silver lining here for Olympiacos fans, as they’ve only won one of their seven previous European meetings with Israeli opposition (D3, L3).

As for Maccabi Haifa, the abovementioned first-leg draw made it five matches without winning for the Israeli champions (D2, L3 – 90mins only), including friendlies. Lapses of concentration on hostile turf have seen Haifa register just two victories across their last six competitive travels (D2, L2), with each game won/lost in that sequence witnessing the winner keep a clean sheet. Impressively, though, only once in the 21st century have Haifa failed to negotiate their Champions League second qualifying round tie, suggesting they could still make this contest scary for the Greek juggernauts.

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Bodo/Glimt vs Linfield

Bodo/Glimt will be looking to overturn a slender first-leg deficit when they meet Linfield at the Aspmyra Stadion in the return leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie.

Despite enjoying 60% of ball possession and attempting a total of 18 shots on goal, Bodo/Glimt found themselves on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline in the first leg in Northern Ireland. Bodo’s redemption story begins at the Aspmyra Stadion, where they thrashed Klaksvik 3-0 in their most recent Champions League qualifying outing. That victory forms part of an eye-catching four-game winning home streak, during which they scored 14 goals and conceded just one in return. Delivering action from the get-go, the reigning Norwegian champions have found the net within 25 minutes of play in four of their last five home outings. They’ll need more of the same if they are to maintain their 100% win ratio in the European home matches in 2022 (W4).

In the meantime, Linfield needed extra-time to dispatch Welsh side TNS in their previous Champions League qualifying tie (2-0 H, 0-1 A), as they aim to reach the third qualifying round for the first time in the 21st century. Despite lacking competitive form, they head into proceedings amid a purple patch, having won their last five matches, including friendlies, by an aggregate score of 15-2. Additionally, before falling to a narrow 1-0 loss to TNS on their most recent competitive travel, Linfield had gone unbeaten in five consecutive road trips across all competitions (W4, D1), with three of those four wins yielding an identical 2-1 scoreline.

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Fenerbahce vs Dynamo Kiev

Fenerbahce and Dynamo Kiev are set to trade tackles at the Ülker Stadyumu in the second leg of their evenly-poised Champions League second qualifying round tie.

Fenerbahce dominated proceedings in the first leg held in Poland, yet not even 12 shots on goal, including six on target, were enough to earn them a win. A goalless draw in Lodz may have snapped the Turkish side’s impressive five-game winning streak, but it has also taken their unbeaten run to a staggering 20 games (W15, D5). Moreover, ‘Sarı Kanaryalar’ have been a force to be reckoned with at home lately, going unbeaten in their last seven competitive home outings (W5, D2), five of which saw them score 2+ goals. That said, Jorge Jesus’ men have lost both continental fixtures in 2022, courtesy of a brace of 3-2 defeats to Slavia Praha in their 2021/22 Europa Conference League last-32 tie.

As for Dynamo Kiev, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has seen them last feature in a competitive fixture in December 2021 and lose a host of foreign stars in the meantime. It comes as no surprise that they come into this encounter winless in three consecutive matches (D1, L2), two of which saw them fail to get on the scoresheet. Even at full capacity, Mircea Lucescu’s men have struggled to find rhythm across their most recent continental travels, losing their last three in a row by an aggregate score of 8-0. But they can at least find some comfort knowing they have won their five previous competitive away matches, scoring an average of 3.2 goals per game.

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Malmo vs Zalgiris

Eleda Stadion is the venue as heavily fancied Malmo look to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Zalgiris in their Champions League second qualifying round tie.

Malmo bounced back from a morale-crushing defeat in Lithuania by dismantling domestic rivals Sirius 3-1 at home over the weekend. Having won their last four competitive home matches by an aggregate score of 11-4, the reigning Swedish champions will feel confident about turning this tie on its head. On top of that, before losing at Zalgiris, Malmo had been unbeaten in both previous European clashes against Lithuanian opposition (W1, D1), keeping a clean sheet on each occasion. Adding to their confidence, Milos Milojevic’s men have successfully negotiated their Champions League second qualifying round ties in both previous attempts. Flying out of the traps should come in handy, and after netting precisely three goals in their last three competitive home outings, Malmo will be confident of pulling that off.

On the other hand, Zalgiris squeezed past Kosovo outfit Ballkani in their previous Champions League qualifying tie (1-1 A, 1-0 H), as they needed second-leg extra-time to make it happen. But the visitors should be feeling comfortable about themselves after going unbeaten in their last seven competitive fixtures (W5, D2). A stellar backline has provided the backbone for Zalgiris’ recent success, with Vladimir Cheburin’s side keeping four clean sheets in their last seven outings while conceding precisely once in the remaining three. Moreover, before a 1-1 draw away to Ballkani on their most recent competitive travel, Zalgiris had registered six consecutive shutouts on hostile turf (W6).

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Deportivo Alaves vs Besiktas

Estadio Camilo Cano plays host to an intriguing pre-season friendly between last season’s La Liga relegation boys Deportivo Alaves and Turkish powerhouse Besiktas.

Deportivo Alaves failed to keep hold of their La Liga status last season as an underwhelming 19th-place finish resulted in an immediate relegation. It’s not strange then that several key first-team players left the club over the summer, leaving new boss Luis Garcia Plaza with nothing but bare bones to work with moving forward. ‘Los Babazorros’ have blown hot and cold during their pre-season (W1, D1, L1), including a 4-0 defeat to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers. Their solitary off-season success came last time out at the expense of non-league outfit Intercity (5-0). Curiously, this won’t be the first time they meet Besiktas, as the two sides collided in UEFA Cup first knockout round in 2002, with the Turkish side running out 2-1 aggregate victors.

On the oher hand, Besiktas fell to a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Wolverhampton last time out, ending an almost perfect pre-season record (W2, D1). Severely weakened by several high-profile summer exits, Valerin Ismael’s men have netted under 1.5 goals in their last three exhibition matches, casting doubt on their prolificacy. That doesn’t bode well for their ambition to improve on a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Turkish Super Lig last season. But on the bright side, they had conceded one goal or fewer is six consecutive outings before the abovementioned reverse against Wolves.

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Ajax vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Johan Cruijff Arena is the venue as Ajax and Shakhtar Donetsk go head-to-head in a tasty-looking pre-season friendly.

Perennial Eredivisie champions Ajax left arch-rivals PSV Eindhoven two points in their wake as they wrapped up their fourth consecutive domestic title last season. However, another impressive campaign took its toll as highly-rated manager Erik ten Hag left for Manchester United, with several senior first-team stars following the Dutchman through the exit door. With the squad Alfred Schreuder inherited from ten Hag vastly overhauled this summer, it comes as no surprise the ‘Lancers’ have alternated between winning (3) and not winning (D1, L1) across their five pre-season fixtures so far. But even without standout striker Sebastien Haller, the Dutch heavyweights have netted 2+ goals in four out of five summer friendlies, averaging 2.4 goals per game.

On the other hand, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that started in February has demoted 13-time Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk to playing exhibition matches only. On top of that, the ‘Miners’ have faced a massive exodus as a consequence of the emergency in Ukraine, seeing virtually every foreign star leave Donetsk to move abroad. No wonder Igor Jovicevic’s men have only picked up one win from their last four non-competitive outings (D2, L1), including a brace of action-packed 3-3 draws with Fortuna Sittard and Hajduk Split. But if you’re looking for a silver lining, not since a 1-0 loss to Olympiacos in early April have Shakhtar failed to get on the scoresheet.

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Barcelona vs Juventus

Cotton Bowl in Dallas forms the backdrop for a mouth-watering pre-season friendly between Barcelona and Juventus.

Inspired by a raft of high-profile summer signings, Barcelona squeezed past arch-rivals Real Madrid 1-0 in a rare pre-season El Clasico last time out. Xavi Hernandez’s men have made it two from two in their United States Tour, having defeated Major League Soccer side Inter Miami 6-0 beforehand. Marquee signing Raphinha has found the net beyond halftime in both Barca’s games in the US, highlighting the potential for becoming one of the leaders of the new ‘Blaugrana’ team. While waiting for Robert Lewandowski to get off the mark, last season’s La Liga runners-up are looking to keep three consecutive clean sheets for only the first time in 2022. That would allow them to maintain an almost perfect pre-season record (W3, D1) and build further confidence ahead of the upcoming clashes against non-European rivals.

In the meantime, Juventus’ youth academy graduates Cosimo Marco Da Graca and Mattia Compagnon scored on either side of halftime as ‘I Bianconeri’ swept Chivas Guadalajara aside 2-0 in their opening pre-season friendly. With all three eye-catching summer signings, Paul Pogba, Angel Di Maria and Gleison Bremer, in contention to start, Massimiliano Allegri’s team will be seeking revenge for an embarrassing 3-0 defeat in their most recent pre-season match against Barcelona back in 2020. But it’s worth noting that Juventus have lost back-to-back fixtures against fellow continental rivals outside the Allianz Stadium in the build-up to this clash, conceding precisely twice on each occasion.

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Barcelona vs Real Madrid

Allegiant Stadium is the venue as Barcelona and Real Madrid go head-to-head in a rare off-season El Clasico.

, Barcelona’s rampant attacking put six unanswered goals past David Beckham’s Inter Miami over midweek, making it two wins from three pre-season friendlies (D1). Xavi Hernandez’s men have netted 3+ goals in two of their three exhibition fixtures this summer, with standout forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finding the net in the last two. The Gabonese superstar is about to reunite with his former Borussia Dortmund teammate Robert Lewandowski, who left Bayern Munich to link up with the ‘Blaugrana’ this summer. Defending coudl be a bit problematic, though, with the Camp Nou side failing to keep a clean sheet in three of their last four outings.

Meanwhile, lagging behind their arch-rivals in terms of match fitness, Carlo Ancelotti’s men prepare to take the field for the first time since ousting Liverpool 1-0 in last season’s Champions League final. Real Madrid can at least draw confidence from heading into proceedings off the back of a four-match unbeaten streak (W2, D2) and another La Liga title. Yet, an embarrassing 4-0 home defeat to Barcelona in the second half of last season left a bitter taste in ‘Los Merengues’ mouths, sorrowing their record-extending 35th domestic triumph. Despite losing in their most recent clash agaisnt Barca, ‘Los Blancos’ have the recent H2H record firmly on their side, having won five consecutive match-ups before collapsing at Santiago Bernabeu last time out.

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Zalaegerszegi TE vs AC Milan

AC Milan’s pre-season tour beings to pick up some steam as they head to the ZTE-Arena to encounter Hungarian outfit Zalaegerszegi TE in their first-ever meeting.

Zalaegerszegi TE finished eighth in the Hungarian NB I last season, and their inconsistent performances throughout the pre-season suggest more of the same could be coming up next term. Ricardo Moniz’s men have alternated between winning (2) and not winning (D1, L1) across their four off-season friendlies. A brace of 2-1 victories over Austrian side Hartberg and Croatian teams Slaven Belupo, coupled with a pair of scoring failures against Vasas and Slask Wroclaw, underline their underdog status in this fixture. But this should still be fun to watch, as seven of Zalaegerszegi’s last nine outings have seen over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring, highlighting the potential for a ‘goal-friendly’ clash in western Hungary.

On the other hand, AC Milan brought a decade-long Scudetto drought to a halt last season, beating fierce rivals Inter Milan to their 19th Serie A title by the skin of their teeth. Milan’s high-flying run of five consecutive league victories down the final stretch of last season helped them edge Inter by two points at the summit. A week ago, Stefano Pioli’s men squeezed past Bundesliga regulars Koln 2-1 in their opening summer friendly to get their pre-season off to a stellar start. That triumph included, ‘I Rossoneri’ have won their last four matches outside San Siro via an aggregate scoreline of 10-3, netting 2+ goals on each occasion.

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PSV vs Real Betis

Philips Stadion plays host to an exciting pre-season friendly between PSV Eindhoven and Real Betis.

PSV Eindhoven put cross-town rivals Eindhoven to the sword in their most recent pre-season outing, cruising to an overwhelming 5-0 triumph to arrest a poor run of three friendlies without winning (D1, L2). However, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men have flopped against Europe’s top-flight sides this summer, losing both exhibition matches to Villarreal and Arminia Bielefeld by an aggregate score of 6-1. Regardless of PSV’s topsy-turvy spell of form, the scoring ratio in their recent outings has been nothing if not consistent. Indeed, their last 12 games have featured over 2.5 overall goals, with nine seeing both teams on the scoresheet. Worryingly, though, barring a couple of pre-season wins over lower-league teams Lohne and Eindhoven, the ‘Farmers’ have not kept a clean sheet in ten of their last 12 fixtures.

In the meantime, Real Betis could only manage an underwhelming ‘nil-nil’ draw to Austrian minnows Grodig in their opening pre-season friendly. However, that result forms part of Betis’ eye-catching run of four consecutive clean sheets, including the 2021/22 La Liga season (W2, D2). After narrowly missing out on a top-four La Liga finish last term, ‘Los Verdiblancos’ will hope to do one better next season, but a poor scoring output requires immediate attention. Manuel Pellegrini’s men have failed to get on the scoresheet in their last two outings, which had been the case in three of their seven fixtures beforehand. On top of that, four of Betis’ last five matches away from home have ended goalless (W1).

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Rangers vs Tottenham Hotspur

Ibrox Stadium forms the backdrop for an all-UK pre-season fixture between Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur.

Rangers head into proceedings in high spirits following a thumping 3-1 win over Tottenham’s fellow London rivals West Ham United in their most recent summer friendly. A brace of pre-season triumphs ‘to one,’ coupled with a 2-0 extra-time win over Hearts in last season’s Scottish Cup showpiece, may have helped the ‘Gers’ put the Europa League heartbreak behind. More importantly, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men have won six consecutive matches in Glasgow since a 2-1 home defeat to arch-rivals Celtic in early April. With five of those six triumphs seeing Rangers score 2+ goals inside the regular 90 minutes, the Ibrox faithful will be looking forward to Tottenham’s visit this weekend.

In the meantime, Tottenham Hotspur and Sevilla shared the spoils in a keenly-contested 1-1 draw last time out as marquee summer signing Richarlison failed to score in his second appearance for ‘Spurs.’ Despite a bit lackadaisical showing against Sevilla, Antonio Conte’s men headed back to Europe in high spirits following a decent South Korean Tour. Harry Kane & Co thrashed the K-League All-Star Team 6-3 in their maiden pre-season friendly, building further confidence following a hard-earned fourth-place Premier League finish last season. Furthermore, ‘Spurs’ haven’t lost any of their last eight matches (W5, D3), netting 3+ goals in 50% of them. But they scored one or fewer in the other four, casting doubt on their ability to stay consistent.

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Ajax vs Eintracht Frankfurt

DAS.GOLDBERG Stadion is the venue as Ajax and Eintracht Frankfurt go head-to-head in a tasty-looking pre-season friendly.

Erik ten Hag’s departure for Manchester United has had a massive bearing on Ajax’s mixed fortunes this pre-season. Without their long-term boss in the dugout, the ‘Lancers’ have alternated between winning (3) and not winning (D1, L1) across their five off-season friendlies. Ajax won a record-extending 36th Eredivisie title last season in emphatic fashion. However, the summer exodus involving Sebastien Haller, Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui could spell trouble for Alfred Schreuder’s team moving forward. Despite lacking their most prolific striker from last season, Ajax have netted 2+ goals in four of their five pre-season fixtures.

Meanwhile, reigning Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt have enjoyed a decent pre-season tour so far, racking up two wins from three summer friendlies (D1). Defensively robust, Oliver Glasner’s men kept a couple of clean sheets in their early pre-season before sailing past Serie A outfit Torino 3-1 last time out. Including the 2021/22 season, ‘Die Adler’ are unbeaten in seven consecutive matches (W4, D3), conceding under 1.5 goals in six. But scoring has been an issue for Frankfurt lately, as they have netted one goal or fewer in six of their last eight outings. The summer arrivals of Mario Gotze and Lucas Alario from PSV and Bayer Leverkusen, respectively, could improve Frankfurt’s scoring output moving forward.

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PSG vs Urawa Reds

Saitama Stadium plays host to the first-ever encounter between Paris Saint-Germain and Urawa Reds.

Led by highly-rated manager Christophe Galtier, defending Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain have picked up where they left off last season, winning both pre-season friendlies by an aggregate score of 4-1. After easing past lower-league opposition Quevilly Rouen 2-0 on Galtier’s touchline debut, Paris pulled off a tight 2-1 win over Kawasaki Frontale upon touching down in Japan. It means ‘Les Parisiens’ head into proceedings unbeaten in 11 matches (W8, D3), including four victories in a row in the build-up to this fixture. Kawasaki’s second-half strike last time out was the first goal the French heavyweights conceded in four outings, underlining their tremendous defensive strength. Equally impressive on the other end of the pitch, they’ve netted 2+ goals in their last six games.

On the other hand, Urawa Reds have hit the ground running since a 1-0 Emperor’s Cup heartbreak to lower-league side Kusatsu in late June, going unbeaten in five consecutive matches (W3, D2). Moreover, following a brace of scoring draws in early July, the ‘Red Devils’ have won back-to-back games by an aggregate score of 5-1, scoring on either side of halftime in both triumphs. Urawa’s last three outings have featured 3+ overall goals, highlighting the potential for a ‘goal-friendly’ showdown in Saitama. But the hosts’ indifferent three-game form at the Saitama Stadium (W1, D1, L1) cannot give supporters reasonable cause to believe in an upset.

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Manchester United vs Aston Villa

Resurgent Manchester United and high-flying Aston Villa are set to trade tackles at the Optus Stadium, Perth, in a mouth-watering pre-season showdown.

Inspired by new manager Erik ten Hag and in-form Anthony Martial, Manchester United have gone from strength to strength this summer, winning all three pre-season matches by an aggregate score of 11-2. A hat-trick of multi-goal margin triumphs over Liverpool, Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace should bolster the spirits in the ‘Red Devils’ dressing room amid malicious talks linking talismanic forward Cristiano Ronaldo with a summer exit. However, Man United can ill-afford to get complacent, knowing Villa seemingly had their number last season. Indeed, the three-time European champions were winless in both Premier League H2Hs in 2021/22 (D1, L1), including a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, it’s been an impressive pre-season for Aston Villa following an underwhelming 14th-place Premier League finish last season. Danny Ings converted a spot-kick to fire Villa to a narrow 1-0 triumph over A-League side Brisbane Roar last time out, maintaining his team’s 100% win ratio across three summer friendlies. Before departing for their Australian Tour, Steven Gerrard’s men thumped lower-league opposition Walsall 4-0 before eking out a 1-0 win over fellow Premier League rivals Leeds United in their first outing in Australia. By contrast, the ‘Lions’ went winless in four consecutive league matches down the final stretch of last season (D2, L2), despite finding the back of the net on each occasion.

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Juventus vs Chivas Guadalajara

Juventus’ pre-season preparations get underway at the Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas as they meet Liga MX powerhouse Chivas Guadalajara in their second-ever match-up.

Following back-to-back fourth-place finishes in Serie A, record-time Italian champions Juventus have performed massive changes to their roster. Paulo Dybala and Matthijs de Ligt left Turin to link up with Roma and Bayern Munich, respectively, while Paul Pogba, Angel Di Maria and Gleison Bremer signed long-term contracts at the Allianz Stadium. Massimiliano Allegri’s rejuvenated squad will be looking to bounce back from an underwhelming three-game winless streak from the tail-end of last season (D1, L2). A mega-money acquisition of Bremer could prove particularly significant, as ‘I Bianconeri’ have conceded 2+ goals in four consecutive outings preceding their United States Tour.

In the meantime, 12-time Mexican Chivas Guadalajara have endured a false start to the new Liga MX season, going winless in their opening four league fixtures (D3, L1). It goes from bad to worse as Ricardo Cadena’s side scored just once during that four-game sequence, casting doubt on their ability to trouble Leonardo Bonucci and co. Going back to mid-May, ‘Las Chivas’ have picked up just one victory from seven matches, including friendlies (D4, L2). Based on their current form, Guadalajara will need nothing short of a miracle if they are to avenge a narrow 1-0 defeat in their only previous meeting with Juventus. They can find some comfort in the knowing they have conceded an average of 0.5 goals per match across their last four outings.

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Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal

CASHPOINT Arena is the venue as Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal go head-to-head in a handsomely-looking pre-season friendly.

Borussia Dortmund’s three-game winning pre-season streak came to a halt at the hands of Valencia last time out as they conceded on either side of halftime in a disappointing 3-1 defeat. With Erling Haaland gone and Sebastien Haller dealing with cancer, Edin Terzic’s men are facing massive issues up top. But they can draw confidence from a recent free-scoring form that had seen them net 2+ goals in seven consecutive matches before the abovementioned reverse to Valencia. Indeed, high scoring has been a common theme in Dortmund’s recent games, as eight of the last ten have seen over 2.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet.

Meanwhile, Villarreal played out a 1-1 draw with Sporting Lisbon in their inaugural pre-season friendly, yet they come into proceedings having beaten PSV Eindhoven 2-1 last time out. Consistency has not been Villarreal’s strong suit by any stretch of the imagination, with Unai Emery’s side alternating between winning (3) and not winning (D2, L1) across their last six outings. But there’s still a common denominator as five of those six fixtures witnessed both sides scoring, highlighting the potential for back-and-forth action. ‘El Submarino Amarillo’ are unbeaten in their last four games outside La Ceramica (W3, D1), netting 2+ goals in each victory.

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Dynamo Kiev vs Fenerbahce

Turkish heavyweights Fenerbahce head to the Stadion Miejski al. Unii Lubelskiej 2, Poland, to take on Ukrainian powerhouse Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie.

A lack of competitive form could crush Dynamo Kiev’s hopes of returning to the Champions League for the first time since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Dynamo’s last competitive fixture dates back to December 2021, while Mircea Lucescu’s men have lost back-to-back summer friendlies in the build-up to this encounter. However, the ‘Blue & Whites’ have the Champions League H2H record firmly on their side, having gone unbeaten in all four previous meetings with Fenerbahce in Europe’s most prestigious competition (W2, D2). Kiev would rather forget their most recent Champions League campaign as they went winless in all six group stage matches in 2021/22 (D1, L5), failing to get on the scoresheet in five.

On the other hand, Fenerbahce, who have suffered defeats in both previous Champions League visits to the Ukrainian capital, enjoyed a stellar pre-season campaign. Since drawing 2-2 with North Macedonia champions Shkupi in their opening off-season fixture, the ‘Yellow Canaries’ have won five consecutive summer friendlies by an aggregate score of 14-2, keeping four clean sheets in the process. Despite slipping to a 3-2 defeat to Slavia Praha in their most recent continental road trip, Fenerbahce can draw confidence from a high-flying away form that has seen them go unbeaten in their last six matches on hostile turf (W5, D1). More importantly, Jorge Jesus’ men have scored 4+ goals in four of their most recent five competitive travels.

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HJK vs Viktoria Plzen

Bolt Arena is the venue as HJK Helsinki and Viktoria Plzen go head-to-head in the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie.

HJK Helsinki scored on either side of halftime in a comprehensive 3-1 home triumph over VPS last time out, ending an abysmal run of four winless Veikkausliiga matches (D2, L2). Sitting three points adrift of league-leaders KuPS, the ‘Klubi’ are still firmly in contention for defending their domestic crown. But more importantly, they are now on the lookout for a first successful attempt to reach the Champions League third qualifying round for the first time since 2015/16. Toni Koskela’s men squeezed past Latvian outfit RFS in the previous qualifying round, though they needed penalties to go through (1-0 H, 1-2 A). Unbeaten in their last three competitive home matches (W2, D1), they will feel confident about building a lead ahead of the return leg in the Czech Republic.

On the other hand, Viktoria Plzen are lagging behind HJK in terms of match fitness and competitive form as they head into proceedings having failed to win their last three pre-season friendlies (D2, L1). By contrast, Michal Bilek’s men have enjoyed a stellar competitive calendar year thus far, going unbeaten in all 16 matches across all competitions (W11, D5). Adding to Plzen’s confidence, they are undefeated in their last 11 competitive games on hostile turf (W6, D5), keeping five clean sheets in the process. Yet, a lack of firepower up top has seen them score under 1.5 goals in three of their last five competitive road trips.

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Manchester City vs Club America

Defending Premier League champions Manchester City head to the NRG Stadium in Houston to kickstart their pre-season campaign against Liga MX juggernauts Club America.

Manchester City pulled off a jaw-dropping second-half comeback to turn a 2-0 deficit into an all-important 3-2 home triumph over Aston Villa on the final weekend of last season. It did not only make it four matches without losing in all competitions (W3, D1) but helped them beat Liverpool to the Premier League title by a single point. After winning back-to-back league crowns, Pep Guardiola has acquired the services of the world’s most talented young striker Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund. The Norwegian goal machine should add a new dimension to Guardiola’s intimidating firepower up top, with Man City coming into this fixture having netted an impressive average of 3.75 goals across their last four outings.

Meanwhile, Club America’s utmost effort to avoid defeat against Chelsea in Las Vegas last time out came a cropper as they eventually slipped to a 2-1 loss. The Mexicans’ topsy-turvy spell of form has seen them pick up just one triumph from their last four matches (D1, L2), bagging under 1.5 goals in three. Playing away from home won’t improve their hopes of bouncing back, as they’ve only won once in their last five games on hostile turf (D1, L3). In doing so, they conceded 2+ goals on four occasions, casting doubt on their hopes of keeping Man City’s outrageous attacking line-up at bay.

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Orlando City vs Arsenal

Exploria Stadium is the venue as Orlando City and Arsenal go head-to-head in their first-ever pre-season meeting.

Orlando City turned a narrow 1-0 halftime lead into a 1-1 draw away to Atlanta United last time out, making it three stalemates from five matches (W1, L1 – 90mins only). Low scoring has been a common theme during that five-game sequence, with four games featuring under 2.5 goals, highlighting the potential for a cagey, keenly-contested battle. By contrast, three of Orlando’s last five home fixtures have seen 3+ goals and both teams scoring. Delivering action from the get-go, two of Orlando’s four previous home games have featured an opening goal within 25 minutes. However, 14 (78%) of Orlando’s last 18 home goals scored/conceded have come beyond halftime.

On the other hand, marquee summer signing Gabriel Jesus picked up where he left off against Nurnberg, inspiring Arsenal to a comfortable 2-0 victory over fellow Premier League rivals Everton in their opening US Tour fixture. Jesus notched up a second-half brace on his Arsenal debut as the ‘Gunners’ hauled back a 2-0 halftime deficit to beat Nurnberg 5-3 in the build-up to their US Tour. Mikel Arteta’s men have won all three pre-season fixtures by an aggregate score of 12-4, laying the foundation for an inspiring Premier League season. Having won their last four matches by multi-goal margins, Arsenal take the field in high spirits.

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RB Leipzig vs Liverpool

Red Bull Arena is the venue as Bundesliga powerhouse RB Leipzig and Premier League stalwarts Liverpool go head-to-head in a mouth-watering pre-season friendly.

Following a respectable fourth-place Bundesliga finish and a long-awaited DFB-Pokal trophy last season, Leipzig got their pre-season off to a flying start by beating Liverpool’s fellow Premier League rivals Southampton 3-1. Back at the Red Bull Arena for the first time since a thumping 4-0 victory over Augsburg in early May, Domenico Tedesco’s side will be looking to avenge an embarrassing elimination in the 2020/21 Champions League last-16. Indeed, Leipzig lost both legs in that knock-out tie by an identical 2-0 scoreline. There’s plenty of reason for optimism, with ‘Die Roten Bullen’ picking up four triumphs from their last five home outings (L1), three of which came ‘to nil.’

On the other hand, Liverpool’s pre-season preparations suffered a false start as they fell to a humiliating 4-0 defeat to arch-rivals Manchester United in Thailand. However, last season’s Premier League runners-up bounced back in Australia, claiming a comfortable 2-0 victory over fellow domestic opposition Crystal Palace. Except for a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Real Madrid in last season’s Champions League showpiece, the ‘Reds’ have not lost any of their 17 matches outside Anfield in 2022, excluding fixtures played away from Europe (W13, D4). While waiting for marquee summer signing Darwin Nunez to come up with the goods, Jurgen Klopp will feel confident about his side’s scoring prospects here, having witnessed his men net 2+ goals on three of their last four continental travels.

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Inter Miami vs Barcelona

DRV PNK Stadium is the venue as Inter Miami and Barcelona go head-to-head in a tasty-looking pre-season friendly.

Inter Miami pulled off a remarkable second-half comeback to turn a 2-0 halftime deficit into a 3-2 home victory over Charlotte in the build-up to this fixture. Phil Neville’s side should show up in high spirits after putting an underwhelming three-game winless Major League Soccer streak firmly to bed (D1, L2). However, Neville will be desperate for his Inter side to improve at the back after failing to keep a single clean sheet across their last eight competitive outings. Yet, the ‘Herons’ can draw confidence from their stellar home form, having won four of their five previous home matches (L1), netting 2+ goals in each triumph.

As for Barcelona, the mega-money signing of Raphinha from Leeds United has been overshadowed by the blockbuster acquisition of former Bayern Munich goal machine Robert Lewandowski. Though the Polish striker won’t make his debut in the ‘Blaugrana’ shirt against Inter, Xavi Hernandez’s side will feel confident about troubling the scoreboard. After drawing a blank in their final two matches of the last La Liga season, Barcelona have scored in both pre-season fixtures, including a 1-1 draw away to Spanish lower-league outfit Olot last time out. But that doesn’t take away the fact they have now failed to keep a clean sheet in seven of their eight previous games.

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PSG vs Kawasaki Frontale

Paris Saint-Germain’s pre-season tour in Asia gets underway this midweek as they take on reigning J1 League holders Kawasaki Frontale at the New National Stadium in Tokyo.

Fresh from regaining Ligue 1 supremacy from Lille under the stewardship of sacked boss Mauricio Pochettino last season, the star-studded Paris squad prepares for a new life under newly-appointed manager Christophe Galtier. Sergio Ramos was on the scoresheet as PSG dispatched French lower-league side Quivelly Rouen 2-0 in their opening pre-season friendly. But for the first time since taking charge of ‘Les Parisiens,’ Galtier will get the chance to field his all-star trio, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi. Paris’ household frontline excelled in 2021/22 as they netted a staggering 90 Ligue 1 goals last season, averaging 2.36 goals per match.

Meanwhile, Kawasaki Frontale cruised to an overwhelming 4-0 home triumph over J1 League strugglers Gamba Osaka in the build-up to this fixture, putting an end to an abysmal three-game winless streak across all competitions (D1, L2). More importantly, an emphatic victory over Gamba helped the defending Japanese champions register their first clean sheet in five matches, something that could prove hard to achieve against Paris’ free-scoring attack. However, a shutout may not matter after all if they can maintain their impressive track record in front of goal that has seen them net 4+ goals in three of their last five home outings.

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Midtjylland vs AEK Larnaca

MCH Arena plays host to the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round first-leg showdown between Midtjylland and AEK Larnaca.

Midtjylland got their new Danish Superliga season off to a false start, drawing 1-1 with Randers at home. Yet, last season’s Superliga runners-up have gone unbeaten in seven consecutive home matches across all competitions (W4, D3) since a 1-0 defeat to arch-rivals Copenhagen in mid-March. Midtjylland’s recent home fixtures have been notably tight, though, as six of their last eight have featured a full-time margin of under 1.5 goals. Pre-season friendlies included, the home side’s last four fixtures have seen both teams on the scoresheet (W2, D1, L1), highlighting the potential for back-and-forth action. Bo Henriksen’s men can draw confidence from successfully negotiating the Champions League second qualifying round ties in both previous attempts.

In the meantime, AEK Larnaca’s pre-season tour pleased the eye of neutrals, as their three summer friendlies all featured both sides scoring 2+ goals (W1, D2). An unbeaten off-season record forms part of AEK’s morale-boosting six-game undefeated streak (W3, D3), supporting their hopes of defying the odds in Denmark. Adding to this sentiment, the ‘Kitrinoprasinoi’ have got on the scoreboard in their last 12 outings, suggesting they won’t be spectators at MCH Arena. Worryingly, though, they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine competitive away fixtures, spanning back to mid-February, conceding 2+ goals in four of them.

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PSV vs Eindhoven

Philips Stadion forms the backdrop for an all-Eindhoven pre-season friendly between PSV and Eindhoven.

It has been a thoroughly disappointing pre-season for PSV Eindhoven thus far, ever since a 6-0 demolition of non-league opposition Lohne in their maiden summer fixture. Indeed, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men head into proceedings having failed to win their last three pre-season friendlies (D1, L2), conceding 2+ goals on each occasion. However, a traditional off-season meeting with fellow Eindhoven foes is the gift that keeps on giving, with the ‘Farmers’ winning all six previous summer H2Hs, including the last four without conceding. Philips Stadion has been a venue of entertainment lately, as each of PSV’s last seven fixtures here has featured 3+ overall goals, highlighting the potential for another high-scoring fixture.

As for Eindhoven, an underwhelming 3-1 defeat to Belgian side Lierse last time out arrested their 100% win ratio during the off-season (W2), with both those victories coming ‘to nil.’ Curiously, since a 1-1 draw away to De Graafschap in mid-May, none of Eindhoven’s last six outings have ended level (W3, L3). But with four of those six results (win/loss) seeing the winner fail to keep a clean sheet, staying focused in front of goal could prove crucial. Yet, the ‘Blauw-witten’ already look like a doomed outfit, having won just one of their last five matches on hostile turf (D2, L2), conceding 2+ goals in three of them.

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Qarabag vs Zurich

Reigning Swiss champions Zurich head to the Azersun Arena to take on Azerbaijani powerhouse Qarabag in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round.

Qarabag bounced back from a narrow 1-0 first-leg defeat to Lech Poznan in their opening Champions League qualifying round to beat the reigning Ekstraklasa holders 5-1 in the return fixture and progress into the play-off quarter-finals. However, except for that success, Qarabag’s recent showings have been far from inspiring, as they’ve only won one of their last four matches (D2, L1). Yet, you’d have to go to a 3-0 thumping to Olympique Marseille in the 2021/22 Europa Conference League last-32 first leg to find Qarabag’s last home defeat across all competitions. Gurban Gurbanov’s men have since gone unbeaten in ten consecutive home outings (W7, D3 – 90mins only), prevailing by a 3+ goal margin in all seven wins. In fact, they scored four or more goals in six of those seven triumphs.

On the other hand, Zurich’s new Swiss Super League campaign began with a whimper rather than a bang, as they suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat away to fierce rivals Young Boys on Matchday 1. Zurich’s abysmal start to the new top-flight season is a stark contrast to their high-flying pre-season journey that had seen them win four out of five summer friendlies (L1), three of which via multi-goal margins. Franco Foda’s men have struggled with inconsistent performances on the road since March, with none of their eight competitive away fixtures in that span ending as a draw (W5, L3). Since 62.5% of those results (win/loss) came ‘to nil’ (5/8), getting off the mark first could be vital for Zurich’s bid to upset Qarabag.

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Sporting Lisbon vs Roma

Estádio Do Algarve plays host to a mouth-watering pre-season encounter between Sporting Lisbon and Roma.

If football follows the script, the Estádio Do Algarve faithful could be in for a tight, keenly-contested fixture, as both Sporting Lisbon’s summer friendlies have seen them turn a 1-0 halftime lead into a 1-1 draw. Despite their sub-par off-season performances, the ‘Leoes’ go into this match-up unbeaten in six matches (W4, D2), conceding under 1.5 goals in five. Sporting’s defensive stubbornness bodes well for their bid to extend their two-game unbeaten streak against Roma in pre-season friendlies (W1, D1), both of which saw them score precisely twice. Playing on home turf comes in handy, with Ruben Amorim’s team going undefeated in four consecutive outings in front of the home crowd (W2, D2).

Meanwhile, visiting Roma have excelled during their pre-season preparations, racking up a pair of 2-0 victories over Sunderland and Portimonense in their opening two summer fixtures. Fresh from lifting their maiden continental silverware last season, courtesy of a 1-0 triumph over Feyenoord in the Europa Conference League showpiece, ‘I Giallorossi’ are looking to mount a genuine Serie A top-four challenge next term. The imminent arrival of ex-Juventus stalwart Paulo Dybala should help improve Jose Mourinho’s firepower up front, with Roma netting under 1.5 goals in eight of their last 11 outings. Including the abovementioned Europa Conference League success, each of Roma’s five previous matches outside the Stadio Olimpico has the loser failed to score (W4, L1).

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Salzburg vs Ajax

A handsomely-looking pre-season friendly at the SaalfeldenArena pits perennial Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg against the most decorated Dutch side Ajax.

Defending Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg dismantled lower-league outfit Fugen 3-0 in the opening Austrian Cup round a few days ago, arresting an underwhelming run of consecutive 2-1 defeats in pre-season friendlies. The Austrian giants have blown hot and cold during this off-season tour, as none of their five summer friendlies have ended as a draw (W3, L2). High scoring has been a common theme in that period, though, with all five fixtures seeing over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring. Another ‘goal-friendly’ contest is definitely on the cards, as Salzburg’s last three meetings with Ajax have featured 3+ total goals, including a thumping 4-1 reverse in their most recent pre-season friendly in August 2020.

In the meantime, reigning Eredivisie holders Ajax have delivered a mixed bag of performances under new manager Alfred Schreuder this summer, racking up two wins across four pre-season friendlies (D1, L1). After a trophy-laden managerial tenure of Erik ten Hag, the ‘Lancers’ have a point to prove, and a brace of 3-0 summer triumphs over Meppen and Lokomotiva Zagreb looks promising. Yet, Ajax’s most recent fixture outside Amsterdam did not end well for the Dutch juggernauts. Indeed, they suffered an embarrassing 5-2 defeat to German second-tier side Paderborn despite leading 2-1 at half-time, conceding four times beyond the hour mark.

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Inter Milan vs Monaco

Stadio Paolo Mazza provides hosting rights as Inter Milan and Monaco lock horns in a tasty-looking pre-season friendly.

Last season’s Serie A runners-up Inter Milan launched their pre-season programme with an overwhelming 4-1 win in traditional summer friendly against Swiss outfit Lugano. ‘I Nerazzurri’ fell only two points short of AC Milan in a keenly-contested Scudetto race last term, as they look to regain domestic supremacy next season. Romelu Lukaku’s blockbuster return to Giuseppe Meazza, coupled with the signings of Raoul Bellanova, Kristjan Asllani and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, indicates Inter mean business. Simone Inzaghi’s men come into this encounter having won their last six matches, including a 4-2 extra-time triumph over Juventus in May’s Coppa Italia showpiece. Too hot to handle up top, they bagged 2+ goals in all six abovementioned games.

On the other hand, Monaco are miles ahead of Inter in terms of match fitness as they have already played four pre-season friendlies this summer (W2, D2). A 2-0 victory over Portuguese team Portimonense last time out saw ‘Les Monégasques’ score 2+ goals for the seventh time in nine games, highlighting their tremendous potential in the front third. Monaco’s attacking puzzle has received a couple of significant pieces this summer, as Breel Embolo and Takumi Minamino joined the club from Borussia Monchengladbach and Liverpool, respectively. They should help Philippe Clement’s side maintain their impressive scoring record on the road that has seen them bag 2+ goals in six consecutive outings outside the French principality.

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Cologne vs AC Milan

Defending Serie A champions AC Milan head to the RheinEnergieStadion to take on Bundesliga side Cologne in their pre-season curtain-raiser.

Cologne kicked off pre-season preparations with an overwhelming 12-1 win over non-league outfit Mondorf and went on to beat Austrian minnows Austria Lustenau 4-0. However, they come into proceedings off the back of a frustrating 1-1 draw with Swiss outfit Grasshoppers that saw them haul back a 1-0 halftime deficit. Despite figuring for a long-awaited top-four Bundesliga finish for most of last season, ‘Die Geißböcke’ eventually had to settle for seventh place in the final standings. Indeed, back-to-back single-goal margin defeats to Wolfsburg and Stuttgart down the final stretch of last season sent Cologne into the Europa Conference League playoffs. After losing just once in their five previous home outings (W2, D2), Steffen Baumgart’s side will feel confident about upsetting their famous visitors.

In the meantime, AC Milan snapped a decade-long wait for the Serie A title last season as they defeated fierce rivals Inter Milan for their 19th Scudetto by a thin margin. Much of the credit for Milan’s sensational domestic success in 2021/22 goes to their phenomenal form down the tail-end of the season. Stefano Pioli’s men won each of their final five Serie A fixtures last term by an aggregate score of 11-2, including an all-important 3-0 victory away to Sassuolo on the ultimate matchday. Milan’s upcoming trip to Germany could hand former Liverpool cult hero Divock Origi a chance to put on the ‘Rossoneri’ jersey for the first time.

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