West Brom confirm friendly date with La Liga outfit

The La Liga outfit will visit The Hawthorns on Saturday, August 2 (kick-off 1pm) for what will be the final warm-up fixture for Ryan Mason’s men ahead of the new Championship season. 

Albion had already confirmed friendly matches against Blackpool and Lincoln City next month.

But it is the clash with Rayo, just a week before the new league season begins, which will represent by far the toughest test.

The Madrid-based club have just completed one of their best seasons in recent history, finishing eighth in the Spanish top flight to secure a return to European football for the first time in a quarter of a century. They are due to enter the play-off rounds for the Conference League later in August.

Ticket details for their visit to The Hawthorns will be announced in the coming weeks.

Further friendly matches are also due to be confirmed as Albion’s pre-season schedule takes shape.

Mason’s men are currently due to visit League Two clubs Blackpool on Saturday July 19 and Lincoln City on Saturday July 26, with both matches kicking off at 3pm.

Preparations for the new season will ramp up next week when the bulk of the playing squad returns for pre-season training on Wednesday. Those who went on international duty earlier this month will be afforded extra time off.

Mason, who will meet many of the players face-to-face for the first time, will report with his coaching staff earlier in the week.

The 33-year-old, the youngest man to take charge of the Baggies for more than a century, was confirmed as the club’s new boss at the start of June.

Assistant boss Nigel Gibbs and first-team coach Sam Pooley have also joined the existing backroom team of James Morrison, Damià Abella and Boaz Myhill.