Real Madrid will kick off their preparations for the 2019-20 campaign with a glamour tie against German giants Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup this weekend.

The match will mark Madrid's first fixture since losing at home to Real Betis in La Liga on May 19, but Bayern have already been in pre-season action this summer - suffering a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal earlier this week.

Bayern Munich

As mentioned, this contest might be Madrid's first fixture of the summer, but Bayern were in action against Arsenal in the International Champions Cup on Wednesday night. Robert Lewandowski was on the scoresheet for the German champions at the Dignity Health Sports Park in California. However, a late goal from Eddie Nketiah saw the Gunners pick up a 2-1 win.

Los Blancos are sure to provide more tough competition for Bayern, who will also take on AC Milan in the International Champions Cup next week before taking part in the Audi Cup towards the end of the month. Fenerbahce are their opponents in the semi-finals, before a potential final or third-placed playoff against the winner of the Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur last-four clash.

Niko Kovac's side will then face Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup on August 3 ahead of a DFB-Pokal clash against Energie Cottbus on August 12. Bayern will open their Bundesliga title defence at home to Hertha Berlin on August 16 and will be determined to make a strong start to the campaign.

Benjamin Pavard and Jann-Fiete Arp both made their debuts for the club against Arsenal, but fellow summer arrival Lucas Hernandez is still unavailable following knee surgery. It has been a fairly quiet transfer window for Kovac's team, who have been frustrated in their pursuit of a new winger.

Indeed, the departures of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben have left the team short in the wide positions. Leroy Sane has been linked with a move to the Allianz Arena, but it has recently been reported that Bayern are unlikely to complete a deal for the Manchester City winger ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

The club might also have to fight off interest from Barcelona if they wish to keep David Alaba this summer, with the Spanish champions currently being linked with a swoop for the Austria international. Hernandez was signed for big money this summer, but losing a player of Alaba's experience and quality would leave a huge hole.

Despite the talent that is undoubtedly present at Der FCB, it does appear that Lewandowski will have to carry a lot of the goalscoring burden once again in the new season. The Poland international has actually scored six times in eight Champions League games against Madrid and will be a threat to the capital side in this game.

It is performances and not results that matter most at this stage of the preparations, but having lost against Arsenal in their first International Champions Cup fixture of the summer, the Bavarians will be keen to pick up a positive result against Zinedine Zidane's side.

Recent form: WDWWDL

Real Madrid

It is two months to the day since Madrid ended their 2018-19 La Liga campaign with a 2-0 home defeat to Real Betis. The loss was the club's 12th in the league and left them 19 points behind champions Barca, who once again proved to be too strong for the rest of the competition in Spain's top flight.

There is a serious rebuilding job underway at the Bernabeu with Los Blancos spending big to bring Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy to the club in this summer's transfer window. Rodrygo Goes has also completed his move from Santos meaning that there is certainly a fresh look to the squad.

Mateo Kovacic, Marcos Llorente, Theo Hernandez and Raul de Tomas have all departed, but more new players are sure to leave before the start of the season, with the futures of James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale, Dani Ceballos, Marco Asensio, Isco and Lucas Vazquez up in the air.

Bale was widely expected to leave the club in this summer's transfer window, but president Florentino Perez has now reportedly urged Zidane to keep hold of the Wales international as there has not been a single bid for him. The 30-year-old is with the squad that have been training in Canada, but it remains to be seen just how many minutes he is given ahead of the new season.

Hazard is sure to be given his first taste of action for the club in this match, while the same can also be said for Jovic and Mendy as a new era kicks in. Big changes needed to be made following a tough season and the supporters will be expecting a serious challenge for La Liga next term.

It remains to be seen whether the club can secure a deal for Paul Pogba, with Manchester United said to value the midfielder upwards of £170m. The Frenchman could well now remain at Old Trafford, although a lot could change in the coming weeks as the end of the transfer window moves closer.

In terms of preparations for the new campaign, Madrid will face Bayern, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid in the International Champions Cup before competing alongside Bayern in the Audi Cup later this month. As it stands, either the final or third-placed playoff of that competition will be the club's final pre-season fixture ahead of their La Liga opener, which comes away to Celta Vigo on August 17.

A number of players seriously underperformed during a tough 2018-19 season and Zidane will be demanding an improvement in the coming weeks from a squad packed full of world-class talent.

Recent form: WDLWLL

Team News

Kovac is expected to ring the changes from the Arsenal clash, with Lewandowski, Kingsley Coman, Niklas Sule, Leon Goretzka, Pavard and Serge Gnabry all likely to come into the starting XI.

Thomas Muller and Javi Martinez should both keep their spots, while Alphonso Davies is also in the pre-season squad and will be hoping to earn some minutes against Madrid.

As mentioned, Hernandez will not be involved, though, with the summer arrival staying in Munich to continue his recovery from knee surgery ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

As for Los Blancos, Hazard, Mendy, Rodrygo and Jovic are all in line for debuts. The former should start, potentially alongside Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema in the final third of the field.

For all of the criticism that came the team's way last season, Benzema struck 30 times for the club in all competitions, which represented his second-best campaign since arriving from Lyon in 2009.

Sergio Ramos is also in line to feature, but James Rodriguez will not play as the speculation surrounding the attacker's future continues to gather pace.

Casemiro is also absent following his involvement in the Copa America, which could open the door for Isco to impress in a midfield position.

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Pavard, Martinez, Sule, Alaba; Goretzka, Thiago; Gnabry, Muller, Coman; Lewandowski

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos, Isco; Vinicius, Benzema, Hazard

Head To Head

This game will mark the 23rd meeting between the two clubs. Madrid lead the head-to-head with 11 wins to Bayern's nine, with the remaining two fixtures finishing level.

Madrid recorded a 4-3 aggregate win over Bayern in the semi-finals of the 2017-18 Champions League, while Los Blancos also beat the Germans during the quarter-finals of the 2016-17 competition.

The two teams previously met in the International Champions Cup back in August 2016, with the Spaniards picking up a 1-0 win courtesy of a late goal from now-Manchester City defender Danilo.

We say: Bayern Munich 1-2 Real Madrid

It should be a fascinating match between two of the giants of European football. Bayern are ahead of Madrid in terms of preparations for the new campaign, but we fancy Zidane's team to record a narrow win.