ICC Round-up: Real Madrid beat Juventus, AC Milan win over Barcelona

Posted Sunday, August 05, 2018 by Goal.com

Real Madrid 3 - 1 Juventus: Bale stunner sparks confident comeback

After falling behind to a Dani Carvajal own goal, Real Madrid asserted themselves to brush Juventus aside in Maryland.

Real Madrid demonstrated their potential to enjoy life after Cristiano Ronaldo by thumping his new team Juventus 3-1 in the International Champions Cup on Saturday.

Ronaldo brought a glittering nine-year stay at the Santiago Bernabeu to a close when he sealed a big-money transfer to the Serie A title-holders in July.

The 33-year-old was not involved in the pre-season exhibition match at FedEx Field, as he recovers from his exertions with Portugal at the World Cup.

While they are still adjusting to the concept of being without the imperious five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Madrid capitalised on his absence from the Bianconeri line-up by brushing aside Massimiliano Allegri's men in the United States.

A Dani Carvajal own-goal had given La Signora the lead, but Gareth Bale's blistering equaliser saw the teams go in level at the break.

And the Liga giants ran rampant in the second half, Brazilian teenager Vinicius Junior impressing off the bench as fellow substitute Marco Asensio struck twice to seal a comfortable win.

The next opportunity for Julen Lopetegui's team to impress will also come against Italian opposition, with a clash against Roma set to take place in New Jersey on Wednesday.

Despite naming a strong starting XI featuring Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema, Madrid fell behind in the 12th minute when Carvajal turned Joao Cancelo's cross from the left past the outstretched Keylor Navas and into his own net.

Lopetegui's side responded well to going behind by controlling possession, but they were restricted to a Bale effort from range in the 24th minute.

Five minutes later, Isco cut inside from left and fired a warning shot wide of Wojciech Szczesny's near post.

The pressure continued to mount, and it told in the 39th minute, Bale picking up a loose ball outside the Juventus area, taking a touch and then firing an eye-catching strike into the back of the net.

Los Blancos came close to taking the lead with three minutes remaining in the half, young left-back Sergio Reguilon blasting a fierce drive across Szczesny and narrowly wide following a rapid Madrid counter-attack.

Both coaches made changes at half-time, and the new arrivals were quickly involved in the action, albeit in contrasting fashion.

Nicolo Fagioli, on for Sami Khedira, gave the ball away inside the Juve half and two Madrid substitutes pounced.

Asensio released Vinicius Junior down the left and the Brazilian teenager teed up his team-mate with a clever square ball, Asesnio firing past Szczesny at close range to earn Madrid the lead.

The rampant Vinicius Junior continued to torment Juve and Madrid duly made it 3-1 in the 56th minute, Asensio holding off Claudio Marchisio and sliding a finish beneath Szczesny, who should have done better.

The Spanish giants could have netted their fourth following another lightning break just before the hour mark, Mattia De Sciglio managing to snuff out the danger after Vinicius Junior took a touch when he should have shot.

And while they were unable to add to the scoreline, Madrid continued to dominate throughout the closing exchanges, in a performance that will afford them plenty of confidence ahead of the new season.

AC Milan 1 - 0 Barcelona: Andre Silva snatches last-gasp win

Barcelona were punished for failing to take their chances against AC Milan in Santa Clara, where Andre Silva pounced in the 92nd minute.

Andre Silva's dramatic goal with almost the last kick of the game secured a 1-0 victory for AC Milan over an unfamiliar Barcelona side in the International Champions Cup on Sunday.

Barca were missing Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, Ousmane Dembele, Jordi Alba, Samuel Umtiti and Philippe Coutino, as the majority of the club's first-team stars were afforded an additional period of recovery following their appearance in the World Cup, while new signing Arturo Vidal is yet to link up with the squad.

In their absence, head coach Ernesto Valverde started Brazilian newcomers Arthur and Malcom against the Rossoneri in Santa Clara, where the Blaugrana dominated proceedings without reward in the first half.

The contest at Levi's Stadium appeared destined for a penalty shootout, but Andre Silva had other ideas, the Portuguese forward beating Marc-Andre ter Stegen at the substitute goalkeeper's near post to win it in the 92nd minute after being found in space by Franck Kessie.

The goal came against the run of play in California, but the result will nevertheless encourage Gennaro Gattuso's men ahead of the new Serie A campaign.

Barca meanwhile will hope to welcome back some of their more established stars when they take on Sevilla in the Supercopa de Espana.

The reigning Liga champions had threatened inside the first minute, Paco Alcacer forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma to concede a corner by making a smart save low down to his right.

Alessio Romagnoli had to be alert 10 minutes later, the defender breaking up a promising exchange of passes between Arthur and Malcom.

Milan's first clear chance fell to Fabio Borini, who saw his shot from the centre of the penalty area blocked by Marlon, prompting half-hearted appeals for handball against the defender.

It was Barca, though, who continued to create the bulk of the opportunities, Malcom narrowly failing to get on the end of a well-judged forward pass from Rafinha in the 19th minute.

And on the half-hour mark, Ricardo Rodriguez had to make a timely sliding tackle to prevent Nelson Semedo getting a shot away from a tight angle down the right side of the box.

With nine minutes remaining in the half, Arthur unleashed a fierce drive from outside the area, a diving Donnarumma proving equal to the task of keeping it out.

The onslaught continued as the half-time whistle approached, Malcom hitting the post and Munir El Haddadi whistling an effort from range narrowly wide, with Donnarumma seemingly beaten on both occasions.

As expected, both coaches made several changes during the second half.

Ter Stegen, on for Jasper Cillessen in the Barca goal, had to be alert to deny Hakan Calhanoglu in the 47th minute.

That chance came on the break after Barca had penalty appeals for an apparent stamp by Rodriguez on Rafinha ignored by referee Baldomero Toledo.

Andre Silva, wasted one of the few good chances to arrive in a scrappy second half when he fired into the side-netting after good work from Calhanoglu in the 67th minute.

Ricard Puig should have won it in the 90th minute, the Barca substitute dragging a shot wide after being found unmarked by Semedo's cutback.

Instead it was Milan who snatched the victory, Calhanoglu and Kessie showing considerable composure to carve out the opening for Andre Silva on the break, and the former Porto attacker made no mistake from close range.