After five years of internal turmoil that saw the club tumble down the Serie A table, AC Milan has new ownership and hopefully a new lease on life. The historic club has really struggled during that time. Former owner Silvio Berlusconi’s fall from grace coincided with the start of Milan’s woes, and his eventual decision to sell the team led to even more trouble. The businessman that bought the club was unable to find the finances to complete the deal, and that led to investment fund Elliott Management acquiring the club last week. Fans are hoping they can turn the page and start anew, and they will be looking forward to watching Milan on the pitch against Manchester United.
The International Champions Cup brings some of the top clubs in Europe to cities around the world that normally don’t get to see top flight football. The match will take place at Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, California at 11:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on ESPN.
International Champions Cup Betting at BookMaker.eu
AC Milan +183
Manchester United +132
Draw +263
Over/Under 2.5 and 3
What to watch for
Jose Mourinho has not been happy with how Manchester United have looked so far in preseason. The Red Devils left for America early, and they have taken part in two matches before starting their International Champions Cup slate. Manchester United was unable to get a win in either match, drawing 0-0 to Club America and 1-1 to the lowly San Jose Earthquakes.
To make matters worse, Antonio Valencia suffered a calf injury against San Jose and limped off the pitch. No one knows how severe the injury is at this moment, but he is unlikely to play in this match as a result. Fortunately, the club has brought a number of talented players over, and they should see more time in his absence. Juan Mata, Alexis Sanchez, and Anthony Martial were all brought over and may feature here.
AC Milan looks to be bringing all but a handful of its players to America. Ivan Strinic and Lucas Biglia will not take part in the ICC after playing in the World Cup, while Andrea Conti is recovering from a knee injury. Almost every other player looks set to play at least once though.
AC Milan Player to Watch
Nikola Kalinic is making the trip to America, and he should see some action early on. Kalinic was acquired for 20 million Euros this offseason after being here on loan from Fiorentina the season before. He scored six times for Milan last season, and he will feature as one of the team’s forwards.
Kalinic is looking to move past an awkward situation. He was a part of Croatia’s squad that made it to the World Cup Finals, but he never stepped foot on the pitch. Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic called him on to be a substitute against Nigeria in the team’s first match, but he refused due to a back problem. The medical staff had cleared him, yet Kalinic insisted he was injured and that led to Dalic sending him home early. As such, he has been able to rest and recuperate and should be fine.
Manchester United Player to Watch
Anthony Martial has been a hot topic this offseason, as he is rumored to be on the move to Chelsea. The young Martial has been one of United’s top players over the last few seasons, and he has been the team’s bright spot during their preseason struggles. It will be worth watching him play, and if he is held out, a move may be on the horizon.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
I’ll give the edge to Milan here because they will have a lot of continuity in their lineup. This team won’t have the chemistry issues that other clubs must deal with in exhibition matches, and they will be able to shut down United’s attack.
International Champions Cup Odds: AC Milan 1, Manchester United 0
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