By James Cormack
Real Madrid could end 2023/24 with three trophies in their back pocket and there's no overlooking the club's summer preparations in their success.
The addition of Jude Bellingham helped mitigate the void left by Karim Benzema, while under-the-radar acquisition Joselu inspired the club into yet another Champions League final by scoring a late brace against Bayern Munich.
A productive pre-season in the United States doubtlessly contributed to an impressively unified Madrid dressing room despite the litany of superstars and that collective cohesion is set to be put to the test when Kylian Mbappe is thrown into the mix.
Carlo Ancelotti will know just how important pre-season will be in ensuring the Frenchman settles ahead of 2024/25, with the Spanish media bound to be unrelenting in their coverage of arguably the world's best player at the start of his Madrid career.
Here are Real Madrid's current pre-season plans.
Where are Real Madrid going for 2024/25 pre-season?
Real Madrid are heading to North America again this summer and will participate in the 2024 Soccer Champions Tour.
The tour was announced by the club back in March, with Madrid being regular visitors to the United States.
Madrid will face similar opposition to last summer but travel to different cities. They've so far got three fixtures scheduled, including a pre-season Clasico against Barcelona at MetLife Stadium, New York - the host stadium of the 2026 World Cup final - on 3 August. Barca beat Madrid 3-0 in Houston ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
Before that, Madrid face Milan at the iconic Soldier Field in Chicago. These two clashed on the West Coast last summer, with Ancelotti's side winning 3-2 thanks to a late Vinicius Junior goal.
Their third and final game arrives against Premier League opposition in the form of Chelsea. These two will collide at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Madrid are playing one fewer game in the States compared to 2023, so a couple more friendlies could be arranged before the start of the domestic campaign in August. They'll also have the UEFA Super Cup to consider should they beat Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final.
Real Madrid pre-season 2024/25 confirmed schedule
How to watch Real Madrid 2024/25 pre-season
Any potential broadcasting details for the 2024 Soccer Champions Tour are yet to be revealed, but Madrid's pre-season action will likely be available to watch via Real Madrid TV.
Highlights of the games as well as behind-the-scenes footage of the club's American tour will be shown on their official YouTube channel.
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This article was originally published on 90min.com as Real Madrid pre-season 2024/25: Fixtures and schedule.
