VICTORY IN THE SECOND-EVER SILVIO BERLUSCONI TROPHY

Two in a row. AC Milan beat Monza by three goals to nil to claim victory in the second edition of the Silvio Berlusconi Trophy. Saelemaekers scored in the first half and Jović and Reijnders hit the back of the net after the break to hand the Rossoneri the win. Maldini with the momentary equaliser for the Brianzoli. It was a good test and a strong-looking AC Milan concluded pre-season on a high in front of their fans, with opening day in Serie A just around the corner. There were plenty of positives and the Rossoneri kept up the form they built while on tour in the USA, maintaining the same style of football. Saelemaekers, who was brave in his choice to hit a rabona, and Reijnders scored two great goals, while Jović's was a true striker's finish.

It was a lively first half and an intense second. The team displayed personality and confidence, so Paulo Fonseca, who made eleven changes at the break, can certainly pleased on an evening dedicated to the memory of the president who made both clubs great. Before kick-off, the fans gave a warm welcome to our three new signings: Morata, Pavlović and Emerson Royal. Our Spanish number 7 started the game, while the Serbian came on for the second half. While football in August mostly holds a less significant value, the start of the season is in only a few days. On Saturday 17 August (20:45 CEST), we take on Torino at San Siro on the opening matchday of Serie A 2024/25.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v MONZA

MATCH REPORT
AC Milan began proceedings controlling the flow of the game and the first goal of the match came at the first opportunity. Loftus-Cheek laid it off for Saelemaekers, whose rabona from the edge of the penalty area took a wicked deflection off Pablo Marí (11'). The opener unlocked the game and the Rossoneri tried to maintain control. In the 17th minute, Leão got his head on Saelemaekers' ball but the effort went whistling past the post. Just before the cooling break (23'), the Portuguese let fly but it was straight at Pizzignacco, then Calabria looped the ball over Vignato and it dropped perfectly for our captain, but the ensuing effort was denied by the goalkeeper. Monza grew into it and, in the 34th minute, drew level through Maldini, who turned home Vignato's ball to make it 1-1. Marić then failed to hit the target and the first half ended level.

Fonseca decided to change the entire XI at the start of the second half and the new-look team kept up the good first-half performance. Two minutes after the break, the Rossoneri were back in front: Pizzignacco denied Okafor but the rebound dropped perfectly for Jović for the tap-in. In the 56th minute, Reijnders doubled the Rossoneri's  lead with a thunderous effort from long range after Theo had set up him with a short pass from the free-kick. Monza tried to respond through Marić but his header at the back post was off target. Liberali's effort in the 66th minute was turned behind for a corner by Pizzignacco. The tempo of the game slowed as the game wound to a close, with the Brianzoli limited mostly to very feeble attacks, though Torriano did have to make saves to deny Birindelli (76') and Mota Carvalho (83'). There were no further chances and it ended 3-1.

MATCH DETAILS

AC MILAN 3-1 MONZA

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan (46' Torriani); Calabria (46' Jiménez (62' Zeroli)), Thiaw (46' Tomori), Gabbia (46' Pavlović), Terracciano (46' Hernández); Musah (46' Reijnders), Adli (46' Bennacer); Saelemaekers (46' Chukwueze), Loftus-Cheek (46' Liberali (73' Pobega)), Leão (46' Okafor); Morata (46' Jović). Subs: Raveyre; Cuenca. Coach: Fonseca.

MONZA (3-4-2-1): Pizzignacco; Izzo (61' Bettella), Marì (61' Caldirola), Carboni (82' D'Alessandro); Pereira, Bondo (61' Gagliardini), Sensi (22' Pessina (86' Valoti)), Kyriakopoulos (46' Birindelli); Maldini (46' Mota Carvalho), Vignato (71' Diaw); Marić (61' Petagna). Subs: Mazza, Sorrentino; Machín; Marras. Coach: Nesta.

Referee: Giua from Olbia.
Goals: 11' Saelemaekers (M), 34' Maldini (MZ), 47' Jović (M), 56' Reijnders (M).

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