What these matches are
Pre-season tours and one-off exhibitions
Most of what lands on this page is the summer tour circuit: European clubs playing warm-up matches at home, against each other in neutral stadiums, or in front of supporters in the United States, Asia and the Middle East who rarely get to see them otherwise. Around it sit testimonials, anniversary matches and invitational trophies — games arranged for an occasion rather than a table.
The matchday is noticeably different from a competitive fixture. Crowds are more mixed, the stakes are social rather than sporting, and clubs treat these games as a chance to show the squad rather than to win at all costs. For a first visit with children, or for seeing a big club without derby-level pricing and pressure, a friendly is often the easiest way in.