AC Milan 1-0 Barcelona
It was billed as the San Francisco Classico.
The final match of ICC 2018 for both clubs before heads turn towards the more serious action.
SBOBET fans were convinced events at the Levi’s Stadium in San Jose were going to be decided by a penalty shoot-out too.
Highlights of the game
Then up popped Andre Silva in the third minute of stoppage time after fine work from Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie and that was that.
In the end, Milan ‘nicked’ an improbable win after Barcelona—who gave starts to new signings Malcom, Arthur and Clement Lenglet—had been well on top.
But Rino Gattuso will not care a jot if this gives his side confidence to launch a sustained challenge on Serie A in the new season.
Remember, there are still new signings Gonzalo Higuain and Mattia Caldara to join the ranks.
In truth, Barca boss Ernesto Valverde will also have seen enough in this competition—especially without the triumvirate of Lionel Messi, Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez—to know more exciting times could lie ahead.
Add in the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Gerard Pique, new boy Arturo Vidal, Jordi Alba and Ivan Rakitic to that list and it’s easy to see that Barcelona have plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
Silva’s strike arrived moments after substitute Ricard Puig almost won it for Barca but dragged his shot wide.
The Catalan side had been on top, particularly in the first half, with Munir El Haddadi, Paco Alcacer, Arthur and Malcom threatening to score. However, Munir, Alcacer and Arthur were all denied by talented young Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma while Malcom hit the post.
Milan seem to have more of an edge than in more recent years and winger Suso has described the past month as ‘one of the hardest pre-seasons’ he can remember, noting Gattuso’s role.
Suso also added that the return of Leonardo Bonucci to Juventus after one season had cost a young team valued ‘leadership and experience.’ Nonetheless, in comments that will surely urge his young teammates on during the season ahead, Bonucci felt he had ‘taken a backward step’ in joining Milan.
Then there’s Higuain who scored 36 Serie A goals for Napoli—the all-time Serie A record for most goals in a single campaign—as they finished runners-up in 2015/16. He moved to Juventus the following season, netting 55 times in 105 appearances during a two-year spell in which the ‘Old Lady’ of Turin captured two Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia trophies).
If Higuain can continue to be as prolific as in recent seasons, Gattuso says it will help his team make a ‘jump in quality’.
Management and fans crave days of old and the lack of a regular goalscorer has arguably been the biggest weakness in the current Milan squad.
Led by general manager Leonardo and Gattuso, both San Siro favourites as players, the ‘Milan project’ is taking shape and they may not be finished just yet.
It’s reported the club wants to rival Juventus for the signature of Lazio starlet and 23-year-old Serbian international Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Whether they sign him or not, the feel-good factor around Milan right now is clear.
This result, however fortunate, just shows that the Rossoneri are definitely heading on an upward trajectory.
Key statistics
Because of a colour clash, Milan were asked to switch shirts at half-time. They promptly reappeared for the second period in their white shirts as opposed to their third kit of black with red sleeves. ICC 2018 odds weren’t offered on this!
Silva was one of five changes Milan made just past the hour mark.
After a series of unfavourable ICC 2018 results, Barcelona are likely to finish bottom of the International Champions Cup standings after a penalty shoot-out victory over Spurs and a 4-2 defeat to Roma.
What’s next?
That is the ICC 2018 done and dusted for both clubs.
Milan have two friendly matches to come within 24 hours.
They travel to Germany to face RB Leipzig before meeting European champions Real Madrid. They will then open up their Serie A campaign against Genoa in the San Siro before tasty looking fixtures against Napoli and Roma.
It’s straight down to business for Barcelona who take on Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup next week before meeting Argentinian outfit Boca Juniors in the Joan Gamper Trophy.
Then it’s, on paper, a gentle start to their defence of the La Liga title as they welcome Alaves before taking on newly promoted Valladolid and Huesca.
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