The 2023 Soccer Champions Tour, featuring six of the world’s most iconic soccer/football clubs playing exhibition matches in the United States of America, comes to a conclusion with Real Madrid versus Juventus in Orlando, Florida. In the words of Homer J. Simpson:
“Florida?! But that’s America’s wang!” I believe they prefer to be called the sunshine state, Homer’s therapist said.
Soccer Champions Tour FYIs
Real Madrid vs Juventus Club Friendly
Kickoff: 7:30pm EST, Wed. Aug. 2, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL, USA
Watch: ESPN App, ESPN+
Preview Material: Team News Starting XI Predictions
The Soccer Champions Tour features these two teams, plus FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Arsenal and Manchester United competing in seven matches from July 22-August 2.
The tour included matches at some of the most iconic American venues including the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, NRG Stadium in Houston, Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA, and AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.
Let’s preview this friendly, which is set to take place at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL.
Real Madrid v. Juventus Team News
It’s a match-up of the club that dominates (although not as much lately) their domestic league versus one that co-dominates their nation’s top flight with their arch-rival club.
Let’s start with the Italian Job, as Dusan Vlahovic might miss this one as his agent is working on negotiating a move away. Chelsea are the front-runners, although any deal there is potentially complicated by the prospect of Romelu Lukaku going the other way.
No real fresh injury concerns at this time, but Nicolo Fagioli and Adrien Rabiot did not make the trip across the pond with everyone else.
Shifting over to Los Blancos, the wait to see if new sensation Arda Guler lives up to the hype will have to wait even longer now.
His knee injury has seen him catch an early flight back to the Spanish capital to undergo treatment. And finally Dani Ceballos will continue to remain sidelined, due to a hamstring problem.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now. Follow the website on Twitter and Instagram.