Spanish champions Real Madrid could be headed to New Jersey, and may be playing the Red Bulls in the process.
Real Madrid is negotiating a deal to play the Red Bulls at Giants Stadium in August, multiple sources told SBI on Monday. Real Madrid could still play another European club, but the Red Bulls are the front-runners to be the opponent.
If the match does happen, it will mark Real Madrid’s first match at Giants Stadium since its 0-0 friendly against Roma on Aug. 8, 2002. A crowd of 70,635 attended that match, which featured international stars Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Roberto Carlos.
Based on the Red Bulls schedule, and with the La Liga season expected to begin in mid-August, the most likely date for a Real Madrid-Red Bulls match would be Wednesday, Aug. 6. The Red Bulls have MLS matches the weekends before and after that date. An Aug. 13 date would be too close to the start of the La Liga season.
The friendly would be the first high-profile friendly for the Red Bulls since facing Spanish giant Barcelona on Aug. 12, 2006 in front of a sold-out crowd of 79,002. Barcelona won the match, 4-1.
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