Birmingham City v Real Sporting de Gijon, St Andrew's, Birmingham

Birmingham City are to conclude their preparations for a return to top-flight football with a friendly against Spanish opposition.

The Blues open their Premier League campaign with a daunting trip to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United and manager Alex McLeish is determined to ensure they are as prepared as possible.

To that end a pre-season friendly against Real Sporting de Gijon at St Andrew's has been organised for August 8th 2009, the weekend before that game against the champions.

Gijon finished in the bottom half of Primera Liga last season, but survival in the top tier of Spanish football represented a real success as they began the campaign with five consecutive defeats - including a 6-1 thrashing by Barcelona and a 7-1 capitulation at Real Madrid.

City enjoyed their own success last season, finishing second in the Championship to ensure they returned to the Premier League at the first attempt.

McLeish has since moved to strengthen his squad by signing Scott Dann, Christian Benitez, Joe Hart and Giovanny Espinoza.

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