Match Report: Bayern Munich - Milan 3-0

The fact that we played two good games against Inter and Real Madrid got us all thinking that we can really do something against the team that won against Barcelona with seven goals on aggregate in the Champions League.

The spirit and the intense training that we read and witnessed in videos and heard about pushed us to think that we are ready to take Serie A to the next level, and even when we heard Marchisio's comments about Milan being Juve's competitors for the Scudetto.

Some of you will say it's Bayern Munich, or they are at home or even that we only have one month of preparation, and i agree with all that but the fact that we only saw their goalkeeper in the 44th minute is embarrassing and we all saw how that attitude changed for 15 minutes in the second half, we missed the character that Miha was trying to rebuild and he expressed his feelings on the pitch kicking the ball back furiously at a wrong pass which we saw a lot of. 

As usual Miha started with a classic 4-3-1-2 with Bacca and Adriano as forwards and Honda behind the strikers, Bertolacci and Bonaventura as wide Midfielders with De Jong as a safety CM. In the back we had a ghost of a Right Back "De Sciglio" Ely and Zabata with very solid performances for both regardless of the first goal and yet another ghost on the Left back with Antonelli.

The game started and with more than 20 minutes passed we could see that position was almost 80% to the home side and all of a sudden we had 2 right backs and 2 left as Bona and Berto were defending stupidly without any effectiveness what so ever. The strikers were forced to push back for lack of support with all communications channels broken into pieces thanks to Honda's lack of basic passing skills or by Munich's Midfielders characteristic. And what killed me the most was that there wasn't any real tactics behind all i saw was someone trying to prove that he is the best team in the world forgetting what team they were up against. 

For now we will keep on praying that the three more names that we all really wants "Ibra, Romagnoli and Witsel" will join before the season starts so we can really try and start to call it a new project, even though if you really ask me a left-back is so important that we really can't ignore at all.

My Rating for AC Milan Players out of 10:

D. Lopez: 5

Nothing much to say, but he's the best signing for years.

De Sciglio: 3

I really loved him back in his debut season, but the fact that he's not even trying anymore is what's killing me the most. The way he acted on the second goal wasn't even Italian "Defensive wise" he was looking at the ball stupidly like from minute one he was saying we will lose for sure so why try at all, and i swear if we played the same way we did against Real Madrid we would have our heads held high and so happy with the work but no he wants to remind you of Pippo's bad period.  

Zapata: 5.5

We can't blame him for that stupid goal, but the fact that he stopped this side for more than one time was fantastic.

R. Ely: 5.5

All friendly's long, i did enjoy this player the most along Calabria, he's putting on a good performance after another and i can't see anything but good future for him.

Antonelli: 3.5

Just one more over De Sciglio so i can point out how disappointed i am of him, but both players didn't do anything that impressed.

De Jong: 6

The only player i love that we have in games like this, as if we missed him it would've been a disaster that we would have been talking about today and if he had scored that long ranger, Guardiola would have giving him the Audi cup himself.

Bonaventura: 4.5

Playing wide wasn't the way to go, and with lack of concentration on the defensive side i can't say anymore.

Bertolacci: 5

Worked and ran a lot, but no focus, losing the ball had to cover more than one position which is hard for a young player at the moment.

Honda: 4.5

All over the place, tried some good moves, but had to defend more than help on the offensive side

Bacca and L. Adriano: 5

Both did their defensive part and we witnessed some movements in the second half but without any good Mid's i can't really rank a striker unless he's Messi and even he sometimes can't do anything without his supporting actors.

Match Report: Milan 0-0 Real Madrid (9-10 PK)

Milan line-up: Diego López; De Sciglio, Ely, Alex, Antonelli, De Jong, Poli, Bertolacci, Suso, Niang Cerci.

Real Madrid line-up: Keylor Navas; Danilo, Pepe, Varane, Arbeloa, Modric, Casemiro, Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Lucas Vásquez.

FIRST HALF:

Milan dominated the first quarter of the match. What Mihajlovic pursue in the hard training session was shown on the pitch. Antonelli had the first chance of goal of the game by eluding some rivals Maradona’s style and finally Navas stopped the shot.

De Sciglio and Poli were responsible of controlling Cristiano Ronaldo’s attempt to dribble to seek for his objectives in the field.

Niang demonstrated big efforts, skills and showed great movements in the attacking line. He made some attempts that made Madrid’s keeper struggled with. Rodrigo Ely, as in the past games has been a solid wall and guaranteed security in the back line of the team, once again proved that he has great talent.

SECOND HALF:

Milan line-up: Diego López; De Sciglio, Mexès, Zapata, Antonelli; De Jong, Montolivo, Mauri, 

Honda; Adriano, Bacca.

Real Madrid line-up: Casilla; Danilo, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Arbeloa; Kroos, Casemiro, Isco, Bale; Cristiano Ronaldo, Jesé.

The second half started the same way as the first half. Milan’s winning mentality made them attack constantly even if their rivals were Real Madrid. The white team tried to control the game with the help of Isco who created a good chance by crossing the ball to find Cristiano Ronaldo’s header, fortunately saved by Diego López’s foot.

The new attacking duo of AC Milan improved the movement in the attacking line and displayed a more offensive team.  Honda crossed a ball that Zapata brought down with his head for Carlos Bacca who made a beautiful volley and Casilla made an extraordinary save.

Mihajlovic made his moves and made substitutions. Donnaruma, Calabria and Paletta replaced López, De Sciglio and Antonelli. Then, Luiz Adriano stole a ball from Sergio Ramos and made a perfect counterattack with his teammate Bacca. The Brazilian passed the ball to the Colombian who let Madrid’s defense on the floor but his shot was saved by once again, Casilla.

Finally, the match ended up 0-0. Milan did not concede in the entire pre-season tournament. Sinisa subbed Mexès for Matri and the match had to be decided by penalties. Milan had 16 year-old GK Donnaruma…

PENALTIES:

De Jong O

Matri O

Bacca X

Honda O

L. Adriano O

Montolivo O

Zapata O

Mauri O

Calabria O

Paletta O

Donnaruma X (He saved Kroos’s penalty)

Real Madrid ended up with the tittle of the International Champions Cup 2015, however Milan showed a great game-play.

Milan suffered first defeat under Mihajlovic

LYON: Lopes; Jallet, Umtiti, Rose, Bedimo; Tolisso, Gonalons (C), Ferri; Fekir; Beauvue, Njie.

Subs: Gorgelin, Benzia, Grenier, Kalulu, Kone, Labidi, Lacazette, Malbranque, Mvuemba, Zeffane

MILAN: Diego Lopez; Calabria, Alex, Ely, De Sciglio; De Jong, Nocerino, Bertolacci; Bonaventura; Niang, Suso.

Subs: Abbiati, Donnarumma, Paletta, Antonelli, Mauri, Honda, Poli, Montolivo, Mexes, Cerci, Matri.  

The rossoneri travelled to France for what was their third pre-season friendly after previous wins over Alcione and Legnano.

Milan enjoyed more of the possession in the opening exchanges, keeping the ball well and winning a series of corners, but unable to test the Lyon goalkeeper or fashion out any clear-cut chances. After 19 minutes Niang latched onto a superb through ball by Suso and showed great strength to work himself into a shooting position before shooting agonisingly wide. Then, against the run of play the home side broke the deadlock and took the lead when Fekir curled a free-kick past Diego Lopez after 24 minutes.

After the interval, Milan almost scored through Poli from a good Cerci assist. Lyon almost made in 2-0 but Diego Lopez was at his best to deny Jallet from making it 2-0 for the French side, blocking the Frenchman’s shot from close range. Moments later Poli found the equaliser in spectacular fashion, rifling the ball past Lopes with an unstoppable right foot screamer from distance. Finally, it was the home side that went on to regain their lead on 80 minutes through Lacazette and it proved to be the game’s winning goal.

This means that Milan suffered their first pre-season friendly lost, and also the first lost under Mihailovic. Overall, it wasn't a bad game, but it definitely showed the fragilties in our defence, especially for Lyon's winning goal. Hopefully,  reinforcements in that department will come sooner rather than later.