DEFEAT IN FIRST FRIENDLY IN PASADENA

AC Milan played well in Pasadena; in spite of the defeat, there were plenty of positives to build from. At the iconic Rose Bowl, Real Madrid came from two down to win 3-2, after Tomori and Romero had given the Rossoneri the lead at the break. Away from the result, our first friendly in the US was one to be admired, given the courage and attacking spirit, with which AC Milan played, as well as the gameplan against such a strong Real Madrid side. We saw an experimental line-up for the first 70 minutes and then some of the "late arrivals" - internationals, new signings - came on for the last 20 minutes.

On the topic of positives, Stefano Pioli will be pleased with the performances of Pulisic and Loftus-Cheek, who looked sharp and creative from the outside, seen in their contributions to both of our goals. 2005-born Jan-Carlo Simić started alongside Tomori at centre-back and played really well, hardly putting a foot wrong. The team, with all the natural peaks and troughs of pre-season, looked hungry, aggressive and capable of playing good football. Now, we get back to work in LA ahead of Thursday's game against Juventus at the Dignity Health Stadium.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM REAL MADRID v AC MILAN

MATCH REPORT
The Rossoneri played excellently in the first half, with plenty of personality, ideas and creativity. AC Milan withstood an early onslaught from Real before going on to create chances of their own. Los Blancos started strongly as Valverde put it wide in the seventh minute. Two minutes later, Pulisic found Messias at the back post but Mendy headed behind. Our aggressive press forced Real into making mistakes at the back: Colombo tried to profit from one of these errors but sent his effort just over the bar (17'). Tomori broke the deadlock in the 25th minute with a towering header to turn home Pulisic's corner, 1-0 to AC Milan. Not long after, Messias had a chance to make it two but hit the shot just off target. The Brazilian was then forced off, making way from Romero, who, with just his second touch of the ball, scored a brilliant goal from long range (42'). And it came from a brilliant bit of football too: Krunić's recovery, Loftus-Cheek's backheel, Calabria's touch and Lukita's unstoppable effort. Two to the good at the break,

The second half was a different story. AC Milan halved the deficit and then equalised in the space of a few minutes, both of which result from errors from the Rossoneri and both were scored by Valverde. In the 57th minute, Sportiello failed to hold on to a not-unstoppable shot and then, two minutes later, Tomori's mistake gave the Uruguayan a free run to make it 2-2. Pioli made wholesale changes in the 70th minute; in one go he sent on Maignan, Saelemaekers, Kjaer, Thiaw, Theo, Adli, De Ketelaere, the debutant Reijnders, Leao and Giroud. The Rossoneri worked their way back into it and Leão, wearing the number 10 shirt for the first time, set up Giroud for the header but the Frenchman was denied by Lunin. Rafa then played in Reijnders, only for Alaba to recover and then Romero to fire off target from close range. AC Milan were in the ascendancy but Vini Jr broke free of Kjær on the break to make it 3-2. In the 90th minute, Giroud came close with a well-struck free kick but it was just off target.

MATCH DETAILS

REAL MADRID 3-2 AC MILAN

REAL MADRID (4-3-2-1): Lunin; Vázquez (46' Carvajal), Militão (46' Alaba), Nacho (46' Rüdiger), Mendy (46' García); Valverde, Camavinga (1'st Tchouameni), Kroos (46' Modrić); Bellingham (64' Paz), Díaz (46' Vini Jr); Joselu (46' Rodrygo). Subs.: Courtois, Fran, Piñeiro; Odriozola; Güler. Coach: Ancelotti.  

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Sportiello (70' Maignan); Calabria (70' Saelemaekers), Simić (70' Kjær), Tomori (70' Thiaw), Florenzi (70' Hernández); Loftus-Cheek (70' Reijnders), Krunić (70' Adli), Pobega (70' De Ketelaere); Messias (32' Romero), Colombo (70' Giroud), Pulisic (70' Leão). Subs.: Mirante; Bartesaghi; Zeroli; Traorè. Coach: Pioli.

Referee: Timothy Ford (USA).
Goals: 25' Tomori (M), 42' Romero (M), 57' Valverde (R), 59' Valverde (R), 84' Vini Jr (R).
Booked: 47' Romero (M).

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