Club Friendlies 2025: Biggest Pre-Season Upsets, Star Debuts & How to Watch Live

CLUB FRIENDLIES HEAT UP AS EUROPE’S GIANTS TUNE UP FOR 2025-26 SEASON The summer friendly calendar is approaching its climax and the storylines are already piling up. With most domestic leagues less than two weeks from kick-off, managers are racing to finalise squads, test new signings and build match fitness. Here is the state of play after another busy weekend of club friendlies. ARSENAL SET EARLY PACE • Mikel Arteta’s side remain one of the stand-out performers, beating AC Milan 1-0 in Los Angeles and Newcastle 3-2 in Seoul before narrowly losing 1-0 to rivals Tottenham in Pasadena. • The Gunners complete pre-season at the Emirates Cup: Villarreal (6 Aug) and Athletic Club (9 Aug). MANCHESTER UNITED WIN U.S. SUMMER SERIES Rúben Amorim lifted his first unofficial silverware as United coach after a 2-2 draw with Everton ensured top spot in the Premier League Summer Series (7 pts from three matches). Key numbers: • 19-year-old striker Chido Obi: 3 goals in 4 games • New signing Matheus Cunha: 2 assists, 88 % pass accuracy Next up: Fiorentina at Old Trafford (9 Aug). LIVERPOOL KIDS IMPRESS AT ANFIELD DOUBLE-HEADER Jürgen Klopp rotated heavily yet still secured back-to-back 1-0 and 2-0 wins over Athletic Club in Sunday’s twin fixtures. Teenager Rio Ngumoha scored in both matches to stake a claim for first-team minutes. The Reds meet Crystal Palace at Wembley for the Community Shield on 10 August. SPURS FACE BAYERN TEST AFTER PERFECT TOUR Thomas Frank’s new-look Tottenham are unbeaten (3 W, 2 D) and head to Munich on 7 August to face Harry Kane’s Bayern in the Allianz Arena showcase. REAL MADRID’S RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK La Liga giants Real Madrid only reconvened on 4 August—just 15 days before their league opener versus Osasuna—after their Club World Cup run shortened the off-season. New boss Xabi Alonso will squeeze in one friendly, against WSG Tirol in Innsbruck on 12 August, to integrate marquee signing Trent Alexander-Arnold and teenage prodigy Franco Mastantuono. CHELSEA’S LATE HOME DOUBLE The Blues have kept fans waiting but close pre-season with glamour ties at Stamford Bridge: Bayer Leverkusen (8 Aug) and AC Milan (10 Aug). Mauricio Pochettino is expected to unveil €45 m defender Jorrel Hato. QUICKFIRE RESULTS ROUND-UP • Bournemouth 0-2 West Ham – Mohammed Kudus brace lifts Hammers morale. • Brighton 6-1 Wycombe, 3-1 Stoke – João Pedro hits four across two games. • Newcastle 1-1 Tottenham – Harvey Barnes rescues Magpies late. • St Louis City 1-2 Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins scores winner after 9,000-mile tour. FIXTURES TO WATCH THIS WEEK 6 Aug – Arsenal v Villarreal, Aston Villa v Roma 7 Aug – Bayern v Tottenham 8 Aug – Chelsea v Leverkusen, Newcastle v Espanyol 9 Aug – Man Utd v Fiorentina, Brighton v Wolfsburg, West Ham v Lille 10 Aug – Liverpool v Crystal Palace (Community Shield), Chelsea v AC Milan 12 Aug – Real Madrid v WSG Tirol WHY THESE FRIENDLIES MATTER • Tactical tweaks: Managers can trial new systems without league-table pressure. • Youth spotlight: Competitions like the Summer Series accelerate academy promotion. • Transfer auditions: Fringe players have until the 31 August window deadline to impress or secure moves. SEARCH TRENDS AND FAN INTEREST Traffic for “club friendlies 2025”, “pre-season fixtures” and “Premier League Summer Series results” has spiked as supporters track form lines ahead of Fantasy Premier League deadlines and betting odds updates. Expect another surge once Europe’s heavyweights complete their final tests this week. Stay tuned—our daily tracker will continue to deliver match reports, standout statistics and last-minute injury news from every major club friendly across Europe, North America and Asia.