Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos expects a tense preseason El Clasico against Barcelona.

The eternal rivals will face-off in the US.

Kroos said: "El Clásico is a special match and it will be played in a special stadium as the match deserves. I think that a match against Barcelona will not be a friendly. This type of game will help us pick up the pace.

"It will be our third meeting there and I think we will improve every game. You will see a physical improvement.

“The team will have already had two games to get back together after the summer and it is always important to recover the feeling of playing together. And I hope that against Barcelona we are at that point, that we can play good football, a good game for our fans there and win. Against Barcelona it is never a friendly."