Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Real Madrid vs. AC Milan - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 July 2023, 08:21
Real Madrid will kick off their preparations for the 2023-24 campaign with a glamour friendly against Italian giants AC Milan in California on Sunday night.

Carlo Ancelotti's side are building towards their La Liga opener against Athletic Bilbao on August 12, but Milan will not start their Serie A season until August 21, facing a trip to Bologna.

Match preview

The dust has now settled on Real Madrid's 2022-23 campaign, and while their was ultimately disappointment in La Liga and the Champions League, the team won the Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup, so another three trophies were added to the already-bloated trophy cabinet.

There have been some major departures this summer, notably star forward Karim Benzema, but four new signings have arrived, with Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler, Fran Garcia and Joselu arriving to boost the squad, while Brahim Diaz has returned after a loan spell at Milan.

Real Madrid have four confirmed friendlies in the diary before the start of competitive action, and it would be fair to say that they are glamorous affairs, facing Milan, Manchester United, Barcelona and Juventus ahead of their La Liga opener away to Athletic Bilbao on August 12.

The signing of Bellingham was undoubtedly a statement, but the departures of Benzema, Marco Asensio, Eden Hazard and Mariano Diaz have left Ancelotti short of options in the final third of the field, and there is a feeling that at least one more forward is required before the end of the market.

Real Madrid should again be major contenders for every competition that they are in next season, and this is expected to be Ancelotti's final campaign at the helm, with the Italian seemingly preparing to take over as Brazil boss next summer.

Milan, meanwhile, finished fourth in Serie A last season, while they were runners-up in the Italian Super Cup and were knocked out in the last-16 stage of the Coppa Italia.

Stefano Pioli's side also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, ultimately losing to rivals Inter Milan, and it will be fascinating to see what the team can achieve in the coming season.

Milan have boosted their squad with the arrivals of Christian Pulisic, Tijjani Reijnders, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Luka Romero and Marco Sportiello, while there has only been one major departure at first-team level, with Sandro Tonali completing a big-money switch to Newcastle United.

The Red and Whites were also able to sign star player Rafael Leao to a new contract last month, with the Portugal international, who had been linked with many of the world's biggest clubs, now committed to the San Siro outfit until the end of the 2027-28 campaign.

I Rossoneri started their preparations for the 2023-24 season with a 7-0 victory over Lumezzane on Thursday, and they will now take on Real Madrid, Juventus, Barcelona and Monza ahead of their first game of the new Serie A campaign away to Bologna on August 21.

AC Milan friendly form:

W

Team News

Real Madrid head coach Ancelotti named all of his big-hitters in the tour squad, with the only notable exception being Dani Ceballos, who is unavailable for selection through injury.

Bellingham is set to make his long-awaited debut for Los Blancos in this contest, while there could also be starts for Garcia and Joselu in their second spells with the club.

Ancelotti will want to make full use of his squad, so it would not be a surprise to see two different XIs take to the field, with Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior potentially in from the start.

Antonio Rudiger could get the nod alongside Eder Militao in the middle of the defence, while Aurelien Tchouameni might feature in central midfield with Bellingham and Toni Kroos.

Milan boss Pioli, meanwhile, selected a 29-man squad for the tour, with the notable absentees being Fode Ballo-Toure, Mattia Caldara, Marko Lazetic, Divock Origi and Ante Rebic, who are not in the manager's plans for the coming season.

Leao and Olivier Giroud are both present and should start in the final third of the field, while Loftus-Cheek and Pulisic will also be hoping to retain their spots in the starting side.

Pioli is also believed to be planning to use different XIs for each half of the match, with youngsters Chaka Toure and Jan-Carlo Simic also likely to be given opportunities to make their mark, but Ismael Bennacer remains on the sidelines with a long-term knee issue.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Garcia; Bellingham, Tchouameni, Kroos; Rodrygo, Joselu, Vinicius

AC Milan possible starting lineup:

Maignan; Calabria, Gabbia, Tomori, Florenzi; Loftus-Cheek, Pobega; Leao, Krunic, Pulisic; Giroud

We say: Real Madrid 2-1 AC Milan

It is always difficult to know exactly what to expect when two major clubs meet at this stage of pre-season. There will be wholesale changes throughout the match, which is almost certain to interrupt the tempo, but it should still be an entertaining contest between two quality sides, and we are expecting Real Madrid to just shade it.

Previews by email

Top News

24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich director of sport Max Eberl has branded Leon Goretzka "an important part of the team", with the German giants working to keep hold of the central midfielder. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Closing out this gameweek 12's Premier League action, Newcastle United and West Ham United vie for three precious points at St James' Park on Monday evening. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid returned to second spot in the La Liga table and moved to within four points of the leaders Barcelona courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Leganes in Sunday night's clash at Estadio Municipal de Butarque. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Leeds have reached the Championship summit after winning 4-3 away to Swansea in an enthralling encounter. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester United's new era under Ruben Amorim got off to the perfect start - before it ended in familiar fashion at Ipswich. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Trent Alexander-Arnold is a major doubt for Liverpool's blockbuster Champions League clash against Real Madrid this week. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester United's new era under Ruben Amorim got off to the perfect start with a goal inside two minutes against Ipswich. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has joined an exclusive Premier League managers' club thanks to the Reds' thrilling 3-2 fightback win over Southampton at St Mary's. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City are reportedly interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson in January. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Southampton have topped the standings in an unwelcome statistic after sloppily conceding at home to Liverpool. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Leicester City have announced they have parted company with manager Steve Cooper. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Arne Slot has continued his flying start to life in Liverpool after beating Southampton 3-2 at St Mary's Stadium. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian further extended his record-breaking season in the Brasileiro as Palmeiras defeated Atletico Goianiense on Saturday night. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool passed one of the most difficult examinations of their Premier League title credentials yet as they fought back from a goal down to triumph 3-2 over a spirited Southampton side at St Mary's. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City have announced the departure of manager Steve Cooper, with the 44-year-old being sacked off the back of Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly stepping up their attempts to sign Lille attacker Angel Gomes, with the North London club potentially getting a deal done during the January transfer window. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Manchester City will reportedly go head-to-head for the signature of Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres during next summer's transfer window. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney is preparing a move for a young Liverpool striker who is the son of an ex-Birmingham City star. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk From dark horses to genuine contenders for the Serie A crown, Atalanta BC now hope to enhance their Champions League credentials on Tuesday, when they visit BSC Young Boys. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are once again expected to be without the services of Lamine Yamal for Tuesday's Champions League contest with Brest, as the 17-year-old continues to battle an ankle problem. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aberdeen, looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, will travel to the Easter Road Stadium on Tuesday to take on basement dwellers Hibernian. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be aiming to record their fourth Champions League victory of the campaign when they welcome French outfit Brest to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Tuesday night. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Malang Sarr's time at Chelsea was largely forgettable. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Kyle Walker has been offered a harsh reminder his career at the top level may be over after a tough game against former employers Tottenham. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On the back of contrasting results on the fourth matchday of the 2024-25 Champions League, Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg cross paths on Tuesday evening in their latest European affair. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney admits he'd like to partake in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, but an appearance isn't imminent. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich remain without the services of Joao Palhinha for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, which could mean a start in central midfield for Leon Goretzka. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain will welcome Marquinhos back into their side for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Jamie O'Hara had plenty to say after Tottenham Hotspur's rampant 4-0 win at Manchester City. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Chelsea defender Malang Sarr has admitted that he was affected by comments made by Mauricio Pochettino during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Tomorrow at 17:30
A
Empoli Empoli
-
sch
Udinese Udinese
Thu 28 Nov, 17:45
EL
Qarabag Qarabag
-
sch
Lyon Lyon
Thu 28 Nov, 20:00
EL
Nice Nice
-
sch
Rangers Rangers