With just one week of pre-season remaining, Southampton are set to step up their preparations for the 2021/22 Premier League campaign with two home friendlies against La Liga outfits Levante and Athletic Bilbao.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have partaken in three friendlies so far, all against Championship opposition. A 1-1 draw against Fulham (behind closed doors), a 4-0 win over Cardiff City and a 3-1 win against Swansea City have given Saints fans plenty to be encouraged by.

However, following the disastrous second half of the last campaign, the majority of the Southampton faithful won’t allow themselves to get giddy over this season’s prospects after convincing victories against lesser opposition.

With less than two weeks to go until the south-coast side’s Premier League opener away at Everton, this final week will give Hasenhuttl more clarity as to where his players are going into the new season.

Home friendlies against top-flight Spanish opposition will not only be a decent test for the players but will also prove to be a pleasant occasion for the fans, with St Mary’s Stadium, set to host the most fans it’s seen since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

With just four players involved at Euro 2020, three of which not progressing past the group stage, the Austrian has had the majority of his players available throughout pre-season, with the only absentee to date being Jannik Vestergaard.

The defender reached the semi-finals of this summer’s European Championships with Denmark and was awarded with an extended holiday.

However, the 28-year-old, who has been previously linked with a move to Tottenham, returned to Staplewood on Monday and could be involved in the friendly matches this week.

Hasenhuttl has also been able to have new signing Romain Perraud available for all three friendlies after the club were able to confirm their acquisition of the French left-back before players reported back for pre-season.

Finding a replacement for the departing Ryan Bertrand was arguably Southampton’s priority for the transfer window, and so bringing in the 23-year-old as early as they did was certainly pleasing.

The 53-year-old has also remained adamant that the south-coast club will be bringing in new faces before the conclusion of the window at the end of the month.

In regards to the friendlies, Southampton and Levante aren’t familiar with one another, however, the Saints and Bilbao are no strangers.

History suggests that the Basque club acquired their famous red and white stripes from Southampton when a Bilbao student travelled to Southampton and returned with 50 of their shirts, which initiated Bilbao’s transition from wearing white and blue to red and white stripes.

Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier was also rewarded by the La Liga outfit for his contribution to football, given his one-club career with the Saints, back in 2015 and the 52-year-old has previously spoken warmly of the club.

The two sides have met relatively recently too, with the Saints edging the Spaniards 1-0 in a friendly at St Mary’s in 2016, with current Saint Shane Long scoring the sole goal.

With Levante (14th) and Bilbao (10th) securing mid-table finishes in the Spanish top-flight last term, they will both certainly provide Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men with the extra quality of opposition they require in preparation for what will undoubtedly be a tough Premier League campaign.

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