Several days ago, I wrote that Louis van Gaal has enjoyed a terrific start as Manchester United manager, with the club touring the United States over the last few weeks. On Monday night, the club continued that record with a comeback win over Liverpool in the International Champions Cup Final. But with the new Premier League season approaching quickly, will the success from this tour carry over to competitive matches?

This year marked the third time since 2010 that Manchester United has toured America. In 2010, the Red Devils lost one tour match (and a second in Mexico), but went on to win the Premier League. The following year, United won all their tour matches, but lost the EPL title to rivals Manchester City on a dramatic final day. It should be noted that in both 2010 & 2011, the club faced only one European opponent (Celtic and Barcelona, respectively) on the preseason tour; in 2014, Van Gaal’s side faced only one MLS club, the Los Angeles Galaxy.  With Van Gaal becoming United’s third coach in as many seasons (fourth if you count Ryan Giggs’s interim era), supporters will be eager to see the positive results from the last few weeks carry into the new season.

United will also be experiencing change with the roster; veteran defenders Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, and Nemanja Vidic are among several players who have left the club this summer. Van Gaal has signed both Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw, but could see more players leave Old Trafford before the deadline.

Because of their seventh-place finish last year, Manchester United won’t be competing in any European competitions in 2014-15. Their three chances for silverware will come from the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Capital One Cup. Liverpool were in this scenario in 2013-14, and they would finish second in the league. Can United learn from what their rivals nearly achieved last campaign? We’ll find out beginning August 16, when Swansea visits Old Trafford.

Manchester United will meet Real Madrid Saturday afternoon in the  Guinness International Champions Cup at Michigan Stadium. Even though this is a friendly between the two clubs, tickets at “The Big House” sold out within a day, as both sides boast avid fan bases throughout the country. If United avoid losing in regulation, they will advance to Monday’s Final in Miami.

Louis van Gaal’s reign of Manchester United has started well this summer, to say the least; the English giants defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 7-0 before holding off Roma 3-2 and Inter on penalties in their previous tour games. United have enjoyed the presence of first-team regulars, including potential captain Wayne Rooney, who recently played for England at the World Cup. But even with the success they’ve had here the last few weeks, it’ll be their performances in the first months of the upcoming Premier League that determines if last season was an aberration.

Real Madrid are coming off their record 10th European Cup title, but will miss Cristiano Ronaldo, the most recent FIFA Ballon d’Or winner and former United player. The Spanish club have struggled in their first two matches of this tournament, losing to Inter on penalties and to Roma in regulation. The Spanish domestic league (commonly called “La Liga”) starts later in the month than the Premier League, but Real are competing in both the Spanish and UEFA Super Cups once they return to Europe. Real’s record of signing world-class players has continued in 2014, with World Cup stars James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos joining in the last few weeks.

With the sell-out expected in Ann Arbor, American soccer fans can look to this as one more sign that the sport is continuing to grow its popularity in the U.S. Two of the most recognizable brands not just in soccer, but in all of sports, competing in one of the largest stadiums in the world. For the fans lucky enough to attend Saturday’s match, it’s an experience they won’t forget.