Marseille to Host Atlético Madrid in Pre-Season Friendly
Listen to the story
Olympique de Marseille are hosting Atlético Madrid today in a pre-season friendly match.
A friendly is a game that does not count in any official competition. Clubs use these games to prepare before their leagues start.
Atlético Madrid have travelled to France to play Marseille. This will be Atlético's final friendly of the summer pre-season period.
The match is being shown live today, allowing fans to follow the action as it happens.
Marseille compete in Ligue 1, the top football league in France. Atlético Madrid play in Spain's top division.
Pre-season friendlies give coaches a chance to test different tactics and give playing time to many squad members.
These matches also help players build fitness before the demanding league fixtures begin.
Since this is Atlético's last warm-up game, the coaching staff will likely want a strong performance heading into the new season.
Fans of both clubs are expected to watch closely, even though the result of a friendly does not affect any league table.
The match forms part of a busy summer schedule of pre-season friendlies played by clubs across Europe.
Vocabulary7 words
- pre-season friendly
- a practice game played before the real season starts
- competition
- official games where results really matter
- live
- shown or happening in real time
- Ligue 1
- the top football league in France
- tactics
- a team's plan for how to play
- fixtures
- scheduled matches in a season
- squad
- all the players on a team
Quiz
Answer key
1. A pre-season friendly 2. To prepare and test tactics before the season 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Olympique de Marseille are hosting Atlético Madrid today in a pre-season _____ match.
A friendly is a game that does not count in any official _____.
Atlético Madrid have travelled to France to play _____.
This will be Atlético's final friendly of the summer _____ period.
The match is being shown _____ today, allowing fans to follow the action.
Marseille compete in _____, the top football league in France.
Pre-season friendlies give coaches a chance to test different _____.
These matches also help players build fitness before the demanding league _____ begin.
Since this is Atlético's last warm-up game, the coaching staff will likely want a strong _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do football clubs play friendly matches before the season starts?
- Do you think friendly results matter, even though they don't affect the league table?
- What can coaches learn from watching their team in a friendly match?
- Would you rather watch a friendly or a real league game? Why?