It has been an abnormal summer in many respects with two LaLiga clubs in the USA for the Club World Cup. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are set to have very short pre-season campaigns as a result of that, while Barcelona are heading to the Far East for a tour of Japan and South Korea.
Atleti do have a match lined up in England in August, while a number of Spain’s other top-flight clubs will be heading to the UK, with some attractive-looking friendlies scheduled against Premier League and Championship clubs.
Aside from Diego Simeone’s side, LaLiga fans based in the UK will also be able to catch Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano, Villarreal, Athletic Club, Espanyol, Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad in action this summer.
2025 pre-season friendlies in the UK featuring LaLiga clubs
Wednesday July 30th 2025
- Coventry vs Real Betis at the Coventry Building Society Arena (19:00)
The first Spanish club heading to the UK will be Real Betis. Manuel Pellegrini’s side ended the 2024/25 season against English opposition with their Conference League final defeat against Chelsea, and they’ll play their second pre-season match in the West Midlands against Championship outfit Coventry City.
Saturday August 2nd 2025
- West Brom vs Rayo Vallecano at the Hawthorns (13:00)
- Sunderland vs Real Betis at the Stadium of Light (15:00)
- Leeds vs Villarreal at Elland Road (15:00)
The first Saturday in August will see UK-based LaLiga fans blessed with three options for catching Spanish top-flight clubs in action. There’s another game in the West Midlands as Rayo Vallecano take on West Brom at the Hawthorns. Iñigo Perez’s side also have games in Belgium and the Netherlands as they gear up for a European campaign after they clinched Conference League qualification on the final day last term.
There are also two 15:00 kick-offs that day featuring clubs that have just been promoted to the Premier League. Sunderland entertain Real Betis at the Stadium of Light, while Leeds are in action against Villarreal at Elland Road.
Monday August 4th 2025
- Liverpool vs Athletic Club at Anfield (two matches at 17:00 & 20:00)
There’s a double slice of action at Anfield on Monday 4th August with Liverpool playing two friendlies against Athletic Club on the same evening. Both sides are gearing up for Champions League campaigns, although it remains to be seen whether Spain international Nico Williams will be part of the Athletic squad, with the winger being strongly linked with a move away.
Tickets for the evening are already on sale via the Liverpool website.
Friday August 8th 2025
- Newcastle vs Espanyol at St James’ Park (19:30)
Newcastle entertain Spanish opposition on back-to-back days in August, with Espanyol the first visitors to St James’ Park. Manolo Gonzalez’s side avoided relegation on the final day last season, and will face a tough test against Eddie Howe’s Magpies who are preparing for a return to the Champions League.
Saturday August 9th 2025
- Wolves vs Celta Vigo at Molineux (15:00)
- Newcastle vs Atletico Madrid at St James’ Park (16:00)
- Bournemouth vs Real Sociedad at the Vitality Stadium (17:15)
The Sela Cup takes place at St James’ Park the following day and will see Newcastle’s men and women take on Atletico Madrid, with the men’s game at 16:00, three hours after the female teams face off.
There are two other friendlies of note involving Spanish clubs at Premier League grounds that day, with Wolves taking on Celta Vigo at Molineux, while Real Sociedad continue their preparations for the post-Imanol era with a friendly against Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth.
Sunday August 10th 2025
- Sunderland vs Rayo Vallecano at the Stadium of Light (16:30)
Less than a week before the big LaLiga kick-off, Rayo Vallecano are the final Spanish team in pre-season action on English soil. They are at the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland.
All kick-off times are local time (BST).
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