Manchester United's opponents for Aviva Stadium clash revealed
Manchester United's opponents for their pre-season trip to Dublin have been announced, with the Red Devils set to meet Athletic Bilbao at the Aviva Stadium on the 6th of August.
It will be the third occasion in which United have lined out at the Aviva Stadium since the ground's opening in 2010, with their last outing being a victory over Italian side Sampdoria back in 2017.
The fixture takes the place in United's pre-season calendar of the Community Shield, which is scheduled to be played out on the same date by Arsenal and Manchester City following their FA Cup final defeat.
Following their FA Cup final heartbreak, United needed to arrange an alternative fixture for the weekend of the Community Shield. (Credit: Getty Images)
Taking place the weekend before Premier League action returns, the game will serve as Erik ten Hag's side's final warm-up ahead of the new campaign.
Following a debut season in English football which saw the Dutchman steer United to League Cup glory and a respectable Top Four finish, fans are expectant that the Red Devils will improve again and challenge the league's top two sides in Arsenal and Manchester City next season.
In preparation for this, the Red Devils face a jam-packed pre-season schedule which sees them play five times in 18 days prior to their Aviva Stadium visit.
Kicking off their summer preparations with a fixture against the recently relegated Leeds United in Norway, ten Hag's men will then go on to face Lyon in Edinburgh.
Former United star Ander Herrera is set to feature in Dublin for Athletic Bilbao. (Credit: Getty Images)
The League Cup winners then embark on a three-game tour of the United States, with games against Arsenal, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund all lined up before rounding off their pre-season with the short trip across the Irish Sea.
Opponents Athletic Bilbao finished in 8th place in last season's La Liga, missing out on European football by just two points.
Another interesting side note to the fixture for United fans will be a reunion with former midfielder Ander Herrera, who after five years at Old Trafford is now back at his hometown club following a spell at PSG.
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