Breaking Down Real Madrid's Pre-Season Friendly Opponents

Real Madrid head to Australia on Sunday for the first part of a pre-season tour that will see them rack up over 27,000 miles.

They play several top opponents, including three Italian and two English sides, matches that should get the squad ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

That is, specifically, to overcome Barcelona on three fronts—the Catalans won the treble last season.

Rafa Benitez will have his work cut out, analysing his squad and dealing with the various problems that have arisen.

Depending on what happens with Sergio Ramos, following Iker Casillas' exit, he may lose the spine of the team.

Benitez must also work out how he wants to play; is he is going to keep Carlo Ancelotti's 4-3-3, or move to a 4-2-3-1?

Getting the best out of the world's most expensive player, Gareth Bale, is another task, as is deciding whether it's time for Cristiano Ronaldo to move into the centre.

Here are the teams Madrid will be facing as Rafa tries to navigate through these problems.

All fixture dates relate to BST

Roma, July 18, Australia

Jim Cowsert/Associated Press

Rafa Benitez's side's first opponents in Australia, as part of the International Champions Cup, are Italian side Roma.

These teams met in this competition in Dallas, Texas a year ago, with Francesco Totti ending Los Blancos' defence of the title.

It ended in a 1-0 defeat for Carlo Ancelotti's side. Despite creating several chances, they failed to find the net.

Madrid's new coach will be looking to get his team off to a strong start at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but Roma aren't the easiest of opponents.

They finished second in Serie A last season to once again qualify for the Champions League.

Captain and legend Totti is still with the side, with further threat to Madrid presented by the rejuvenated Gervinho and Miralem Pjanic.

Manchester City, July 24, Australia

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Back at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 24, the task gets harder for Real Madrid. They will play against Manchester City, powered by Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero.

These teams met twice in the 2012-13 Champions League, with Madrid winning the first game 3-2 and drawing the second 1-1.

City will be looking to bounce back after a poor campaign that saw them relinquish their Premier League title to Chelsea.

Manuel Pellegrini has not reinforced his side yet but has plenty of options to do so, with Raheem Sterling and Paul Pogba linked with the Eastlands side.

Real star Isco will be looking forward to seeing his former Malaga boss Pellegrini. The City manager coached Real Madrid in the 2009-10 season.

Inter Milan, July 27, China

Nhat V. Meyer/Associated Press

To China—more specifically the Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou—for another edition of the International Champions Cup.

Like Roma, Madrid last played Inter Milan in this competition last year, with Gareth Bale scoring a wonder goal in a 1-1 draw.

The Welshman needs to conjure that magic up again this season, and facing Inter should bring back happy memories for him.

Madrid lost on penalties at the end of that match, and Benitez will be hoping not to suffer the same fate.
Inter Milan endured a torrid 2014-15 season, finishing eighth in Serie A.

Looking to come back stronger, they have already recruited Jeison Murillo from Granada, a fine centre-back and one of the stars of the Copa America.

He could be paired with Gary Medel, who won that competition with Chile, helping to shackle Lionel Messi in the final.

Players such as Mauro Icardi, Mateo Kovacic and Fredy Guarin will be hoping to drag their team up by the bootstraps in the new campaign, and getting one over a Real Madrid team led by a former coach would be a fine start.

AC Milan, July 30, China

Kamran Jebreili/Associated Press

On to Shanghai, where Real Madrid face the other Milan side.

They fared even worse than Inter last season, finishing an embarrassing 10th in the league.

These two teams met in Dubai last Christmas, and despite goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, Milan emerged 4-2 winners.

The Italians were too strong, and that defeat played some part in sending Madrid into a tailspin, which resulted in them losing their first league game back after the winter break, ending their record winning streak in competitive games.

Despite their performances last season, there are still dangerous players in the Milan squad, such as Keisuke Honda, Alessio Cerci and new signing Carlos Bacca.

Tottenham, August 4, Germany

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Real Madrid head back to Europe, to Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena, after the Milan game.

There, they will face Tottenham Hotspur in the Audi Cup, which is an interesting fixture for one main reason: Gareth Bale facing his former side.

Madrid made the Welshman the most expensive player in the world when they prised him out of Tottenham's hands in a protracted transfer deal that seemed to take all summer back in 2013.

The results have been mixed since Bale landed in the Spanish capital, but he will want to put on a show as he plays against the team that helped him grow into a superstar.

Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs are well-drilled, and the likes of Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen aren't easy to handle.

Bayern or AC Milan, August 5, Germany

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

If Real Madrid beat Spurs, they will play the winner of the Bayern Munich-AC Milan clash.

Let's assume they do and they face Bayern in the Audi Cup final the following day.

The Germans will be on home soil, but Madrid may be favourites, given their victories over Bayern in the 2013-14 Champions League.

They won 5-0 on aggregate in a stunning semi-final triumph, netting four goals in the Allianz Arena.

Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo did the damage that night, scoring two goals each, and Madrid will want the same again.

Valerenga, August 9, Norway

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

The final clash for Rafa Benitez's men before the league season gets underway takes them to Norway to face Valerenga.

They will play the Scandinavian side at the Ullevaal Stadium, and it should be a good chance for Madrid's players to get some goals and enjoy themselves, ahead of the league season kicking off.

Valerenga are based in Oslo and have a rich pedigree, although haven't won the Tippeligaen since 2005.

By this point in the pre-season, Madrid's players should be ready to compete. As such the outcome of this match will just be a formality.