Reigning NCAA Champions Akron Zips are set to take on Real Madrid Castilla, or reserves, in a pre-season friendly.

The Zips will head to Spain on Friday to spend about a week preparing for the 2011 college season and they have a host of games which are sure to help develop the playing list.

Firstly they take on the reserves outfits of Atletico Madrid (March 14) and Getafe (March 16) before meeting Real Madrid's B-team (March 18) and head coach Caleb Porter says it is a brilliant trip for his squad to undertake.

"This is an opportunity of a lifetime for the Akron soccer program to spend our spring break in Spain, the top soccer country in the world right now," Porter said in a statement.

"To be able to immerse ourselves in the game as well as take in the Spanish culture will make for a unique experience unlike anything our team has done before."