CHERRIES have announced a showpiece home friendly against Ligue 1 outfit Marseille.

The fixture will take place at Vitality Stadium on Saturday, August 4 (3pm), the day after Eddie Howe’s men lock horns with Real Betis at the same venue.

Marseille finished fourth in the French top flight last season behind champions Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and Lyon.

Managed by former Lille and Roma boss Rudi Garcia, Les Olympiens also reached the final of the Europa League, in which they were beaten 3-0 by Atletico Madrid.

Playmaker Dimitri Payet is one of a number of big-name players who could line up against Howe’s troops.

The former West Ham star, who returned to Stade Vélodrome for £25million in January 2017, scored nine times in all competitions last season.

Ex-Newcastle United forward Florian Thauvin topped the goalscoring charts for the nine-time French champions in 2017-18.

The 25-year-old pitched in with 25 goals, including a hat-trick in a 6-3 win over Metz in February.

Cherries have already announced Sevilla and Levante as friendly opposition as part of next month’s Spanish pre-season training camp.

They then return to British soil to take on Bristol City and Nottingham Forest away from home, before hosting Betis and Marseille.