TWO WINS FROM TWO IN THE USA: REAL MADRID BEATEN 1-0

Two wins from two! After their victory over Manchester City at the Yankee Stadium, AC Milan also defeated Real Madrid at the Soldier Field in Chicago. The Rossoneri’s second success on their DIRECTV Soccer Champions Tour arrived courtesy of the impressive Samuel Chukwueze, who bagged the only goal of the game at the start of the second half and continued his excellent pre-season form. The win against the reigning European champions was the reward for the work put in by Fonseca’s side, who grew over the course of the 90 minutes and created various opportunities while also producing a solid display defensively.

Overall, it was an encouraging performance from the Rossoneri, beyond the fact that both teams were missing several players. Ancelotti’s Los Blancos will begin their season before AC Milan - the UEFA Super Cup awaits Real Madrid in two weeks - but it was the Diavolo who impressed more, including from a fitness perspective. And the result will only boost the players’ confidence and morale. The Rossoneri will resume training tomorrow - Friday 2 August - with a double session ahead of the final match of their US Tour, which will see them face Barcelona in Baltimore. Keep it up, lads!

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v REAL MADRID

MATCH REPORT
The Rossoneri made a lively start and came close after just four minutes: Chukwueze regained possession high up the pitch and tested Courtois with a left-footed effort. Three minutes later, Liberali found Nasti, who was also denied by the Belgian goalkeeper. After a promising spell for Real, AC Milan went back on the attack in the 24th minute, with Chukwueze curling just off target. There wasn’t much goalmouth action for the rest of the half, although Díaz did threaten for Los Blancos on the 36-minute mark and Tomori unsuccessfully went for an acrobatic overhead kick from a free-kick in first-half stoppage time.

Coach Fonseca didn’t make any changes at the break and saw his side take a 55th-minute lead: Tomori won back possession in midfield and found Liberali, who broke forward and found Chukwueze for a left-footed near-post finish. The scorer and assist provider then combined again a few minutes later, but Liberali couldn’t keep his attempt down (59’). AC Milan kept on pushing, with a 63rd-minute header from Thiaw striking the bar. Following the first substitutions made by Fonseca, an inspired Chukwueze picked out Pulisic, who was thwarted by Lunin’s foot (73’). Real almost equalised in the 83rd minute, but Torriani rushed out to foil Álvaro Rodríguez. After a fine burst forward by Jiménez, an 85th-minute strike by Cuenca lacked precision. After three minutes of added time, AC Milan ran out 1-0 winners.

MATCH DETAILS

AC MILAN 1-0 REAL MADRID

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Torriani; Calabria (66' Kalulu), Tomori (87' Camarda), Thiaw (78' Gabbia), Terracciano (66' Jiménez); Bennacer (78' Pobega), Loftus-Cheek (66' Musah); Chukwueze (78' Cuenca), Liberali (66' Pulisic), Saelemaekers (78' Bakoune); Nasti (66' Jović). Subs: Nava, Raveyre; Zeroli. Coach: Fonseca.

REAL MADRID (4-3-2-1): Courtois (46' Lunin); Lucas Vázquez, Rüdiger (46' Joan Martínez), Vallejo (46' Asencio), Fran García; Modrić (46' Palacios, 52' Álvaro Rodríguez, 89' de León), Mario Martín, Ceballos; Arda Güler (46' Nico Paz), Díaz; Endrick (46' Latasa). Subs: Fran González; Jacobo Ramón, Lorenzo, Obrador. Coach: Ancelotti.

Referee: Rubiel Vázquez (USA).
Goal: 55' Chukwueze (M).
Booked: 86' Bakoune (M).

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