Five connections between LaLiga and football in the US

This post-season isn't the first time that Liga BBVA teams have faced clubs from the United States' Major League Soccer, or MLS for short. In the summer of 2014, Atletico Madrid took on the San Jose Earthquakes in the US as part of the LFP World Challenge. A year later, Valencia CF also visited the country and locked horns with the Columbus Crew, while this time round Real Sociedad and SD Eibar are in action against sides from the top tier of US football. Inspired by the two Basque clubs' American adventures, below we explore five connections between LaLiga and the US soccer scene:

Kasey Keller, Jozy Altidore and Oguchi Onyewu

This trio all enjoyed stints in the Liga BBVA at different stages in their careers. Legendary keeper Keller spent two seasons as the number 1 at Rayo Vallecano, while forward Altidore had two campaigns at Villarreal CF and one at Xerez CD while a budding youngster. For his part, centre-back Onyewu had a one-year loan spell at Malaga CF.

David Villa

One of the unmistakable icons of the Liga BBVA for many years is now a poster boy for MLS. The former Spain striker continues to plunder goals with ease as one of the marquee players at New York City FC, where he has a compatriot for one of his partners in crime: ex-Athletic Club stalwart Andoni Iraola. These NYC teammates are just a couple of the numerous Spanish players plying their trade in MLS at present.

Raul Gonzalez & LaLiga's offices in the United States

Fresh from having called time on his career after gracing the NASL (American soccer's second tier) with the New York Cosmos in his final season, Raul Gonzalez was named LaLiga's new country manager for the United States, in a role which sees him head up the organisation's New York offices. Establishing a base in the Big Apple sees New York join Beijing, Dubai and Johannesburg as one of the strategic locations forming part of LaLiga's plans to become the top name on the international football scene and a league boasting a well-established brand image.

Rayo Oklahoma City

This is the name of the newest addition to the NASL. Rayo Vallecano recently founded this franchise club with a view to spreading the name of the Madrid-based club and Spanish football in the United States.

David Beckham

He was one of the stars of LaLiga in his Real Madrid days, before leaving the Blancos to head for MLS, where he signed for the LA Galaxy. Beckham would later return to play in Europe (with AC Milan and PSG), but his association with American soccer lives on. In 2014, MLS announced that the former England international had exercised an option to buy an MLS expansion team, which he is in the process of setting up in Miami.