International Champions Cup: Tough Start for Milan

Bayern Munich vs AC Milan

AC Milan open their 2019 International Champions Cup campaign on Tuesday, and it couldn’t be a much bigger test for the Serie A club.

International Champions Cup Bayern Munich vs Milan brings together two of the grand old names of European football, but their recent fortunes have been rather contrasting. While the Bavarians have dominated the German league for seven seasons, the days when the Rossoneri bossed the Scudetto are in the distant past.

But this is a chance for Milan to start their season in a positive way. The Bayern Munich vs Milan odds back a Bundesliga win, so any kind of result for the Italians will be welcomed. They have a new head coach in Marco Giampaolo and every reason to believe they can prosper in the Italian league.

Bayern has already played twice in the ICC, with one win and one defeat, and head coach Niko Kovac will be keen to get his team in the credit column.

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International Champions Cup

Talking Points

Bayern’s Jigsaw almost complete

Kovac hasn’t allowed his team to stand still, knowing full well they need to keep improving, having been pushed so hard by Borussia Dortmund last season. And he has already moved to strengthen his rearguard; France World Cup stars Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernadez have arrived to bolster Bayern’s defence. Hernandez switched from Atletico Madrid for the princely sum of £68 million and you can’t ask for a better training than with Diego Simeone’s backline.

The Bayern coach is looking to replace the departed Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery and is currently weighing up a move for Manchester City’s £90 million rated Leroy Sane.

In the meantime the current crop put on a good show to beat Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid, with Corentin Tolisso, Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry on target in a 3-1 victory. Sven Ulreich was unlucky to get a red card when he was adjudged to have fouled late in the game, but replays showed he made little or no contact with the Madrid player.

Marco’s Milan takes a bow

This is Milan’s opening fixture in the International Champions Cup before the Rossoneri goes on to play Benfica and Manchester United. And they will want to be 100 per cent ready for the new campaign in Italy.

A fast finish in the 2019 Serie A season was too little too late in Milan’s attempt to reach a Champions League spot. The Rossoneri finished in fifth, a place behind Inter Milan. That ignominy signalled the end of Gennaro Gattuso’s reign as the boss and he was replaced by Marco Giampaolo. The former Sampdoria chief has signed a two-year deal worth 2 million Euros and will be expected to go at least one step further than his predecessor.

He has inherited a gifted squad, with Italy keeper Gigi Donnarumma performing at a level way beyond his 20 years. Skipper and central defender Alessio Romagnoli is a reassuring presence in front of the keeper and with Argentine Lucas Biglia in midfield and Krzysztof Piatek upfront, the Rossoneri has a strong spine. Piatek scored nine goals in 2019 after his January switch from Genoa and alongside Franck Kessie, he has made the main striker’s place his own.

Krzysztof Piatek is expected to lead AC Milan in front against Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup — Krzysztof Piatek celebrates after scoring a goal for AC Milan

Forward Andre Silva has returned to the San Siro after a loan move to Sevilla and he might find it difficult to displace either of the front men. He started in explosive style in La Liga, scoring a hat-trick on his debut, but the goals dried up after Christmas and the undoubtedly talented striker will need to find some consistency if he has a future in Milan. The Rossoneri expected Sevilla to table a bid for the 23-year-old but that hasn’t materialised.

One player who could be on the way out is 21-year-old striker Patrick Cutrone, who may join Premier League club Wolves in a move valued at around £23 million.

History

Milan has a proud history, as 18 times winners of Serie A and seven-times European champions and their fans would dearly love to see the good times return.

Bayern is enjoying its own period of domination, winning seven Bundesligas on the bounce to make it 29 in total.

The head to head Bayern Munich vs Milan results give the Rossoneri cause for optimism in this tie. Milan has won four of the nine games played since 2006, with Bayern winning three and there have been two draws. The Italians put Bayern to the sword in the last two ICC meetings, winning 4-0 in 2017 and 5-3 a year earlier; and they are on a winning streak of four matches.

Betting Tip

	Bayern Munich vs AC Milan	Bayern Munich Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 1.77
	July 24, 09:00 (GMT+8)

The Rossoneri squad is talented for sure, but Bayern is a formidable opponent with the benefit of two games under its belt, a defeat to Arsenal before beating Los Blancos.

Milan is at SBOBET odds of 2.00 with that +0.50 goal start but I think they will take time to get up to speed with the Germans. And we should see plenty of goalmouth action with Over 3 goals available at odds of 1.89.