English clubs are now well into their pre-season schedule as the build-up to the new campaign begins, with fixtures taking place worldwide to build up fitness.
Manchester United and Arsenal, for instance, are currently on pre-season tours in the United States, with West Ham and Tottenham among those currently in Australia. Liverpool, meanwhile, are in Germany.
These days, it's rare to see a Premier League team not venturing overseas prior to the season beginning. The newly-promoted duo of Sheffield United and Luton have been on training camps in Portugal and Slovenia respectively.
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The same can be said for top overseas clubs, with Barcelona joining United and Arsenal in the States.
Pre-season schedules are reasonably structured in modern football at the highest levels, with clubs desperate to give themselves the best opportunity of success for the upcoming season.
But there have been some unusual matchups in the past - here are nine of the best.
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Dallas Tornados vs Iranian Air Force (1967)
The list probably peaks here - but what a fixture to start off with.
In 1967, US side Dallas Tornados went on a tour of Asia for their pre-season - and it was anything but your typical tour.
As per a report from The Guardian, the squad escaped from Greek-Cypriot terrorists, bizarrely visited Vietnam while the country was at war, and were forced to hide in an Indian hotel for two days due to political riots.
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In terms of the football itself, the Dallas side faced a range of teams - including a side representing the Iranian Air Force. Containing seven internationals, the Air Force won 2-1.
Heaton Stannington vs Gabon (2012)
The Gabon international team needed opposition as they prepared for the 2012 Olympic football tournament, held in London.
They were due to face Newcastle, but due to a schedule clash involving the Magpies, Gabon needed to source a replacement.
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They faced 11th-tier side Heaton Stannington, and a side featuring future Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won 4-0.
ATV Irdving vs Everton (2018)
During a pre-season tour of Austria, Everton officials decided to hand new manager Marco Silva his first test as Toffees boss - a fixture against local opposition ATV Irdving.
As it turned out, it was anything but a test for Everton. They won 22-0, with Kevin Mirallas coming off the bench for the second half and smashing in a hat-trick in seven minutes. Three other players matched the feat.
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Juventus vs Notts County (2011)
You might be forgiven for thinking the only similarity between Juventus and Notts County is the colour of their home shirts, with both adorning black and white.
That is, in fact, largely true - but the story behind it is certainly interesting.
As per information uncovered from historians Roger Stirland and Luca Formara (via LeftLion), English businessman Tom Gordon Savage - who played for Juve - sent a letter to a Nottingham supplier, who supplied the club with footballs, asking them whether they could send over new kits to the Italian club.
They obliged, and although Juve players were said to be initially upset at the colour of the kits, black and white has become a staple colour of the club's home shirts.
When Juve and Notts County met up in a pre-season friendly in 2011, the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Bamber Bridge vs Czech Republic (1996)
In 1996, the Czech Republic national team set up their base in Lancashire in preparation for Euro 1996.
An exciting side that contained a young Pavel Nedved, Borussia Dortmund star Patrik Berger and future Manchester United wideman Karel Poborsky, the Czechs went on to reach the final, where they lost to Germany.
But before the tournament, they faced local opposition in Bamber Bridge, whose Irongate ground was packed to its capacity of 2,300 to witness a unique showdown.
The match ended 9-1, with Poborsky, Nedved, Berger and Vladimir Smicer all getting on the scoresheet.
Hibernian vs Barcelona (2008)
Pep Guardiola's first fixture asBarcelona boss saw his side take on Scottish Premiership side Hibernian at Easter Road.
The scoreline was 6-0, with Lionel Messi unsurprisingly starring ahead of a four-year spell under the Spanish boss that would establish his status as a football legend.
Barca would play one more pre-season fixture, against Dundee United, as part of a mini-tour of Scotland. Hibernian, meanwhile, lost seven of their eight pre-season friendlies, scoring just twice.
Cabinteely vs Muse (2016)
Yes, that is the famous rock band.
In 2016, Muse took on Irish side Cabinteely in a 'pre-season friendly', winning 9-8. Out of the band members, only bassist Chris Wolstenholme took to the pitch, but helped his side to victory.
According to the Cabinteely manager Eddie Gormley (via The42), the fixture came about as a result of Wolstenholme's 16-year-old Alfie, who formerly played for the club at youth level.
Shrewsbury vs Galatasaray (2013)
In 2013, League One side Shrewsbury Town took on Turkish champions Galatasaray as part of their pre-season preparations.
The game ended 3-0 to the Turkish side, who included the likes of Hamit Altintop, Didier Drogba, Wesley Sneijder and Burak Yilmaz in the matchday squad.
Shrewsbury boss Graham Turner said the fixture had been arranged as part of Galatasaray's preparations for the Emirates Cup, with a contract actually stipulating that the Turkish giants had to send over their strongest possible squad.
Plymouth vs Real Madrid (2006)
Plymouth's squad set off for a pre-season tour of Austria in 2006, with Ian Holloway's side seeing their accommodation pre-booked.
Then Real Madrid arrived in the same area. Manager Fabio Capello wanted Plymouth's hotel for his players and, as per the Plymouth Herald, contacted the Championship club to enquire about a change.
In return, Los Blancos would play Plymouth's costs for the tour and host a friendly in Austria.
The game ended in a respectable 1-0 defeat for Argyle, who faced off against the likes of Guti, Julio Baptista and Jonathan Woodgate.
Topics: Football
Ryan Smart