Fede Valverde, with a brace, and Vinícius Jr., with the third and final goal, were the stars this Sunday for Real Madrid, who came from behind to beat Milan 3-2 in the first game of their pre-season tour in the United States.
The praise of Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach, went to the rookie Jude Bellingham and he assured that the team has to adapt to exploit the enormous talent of the young Briton. "Between the lines, Bellingham's position has been good, he has played a good game. Clearly the team has to get more used to his quality, which is extraordinary, because his arrival inside the area is a very important reality for us," argued the coach at a press conference in which he also stressed that his "intensity" and "rhythm" set him apart from other Madrid midfielders.
"It's rare to find a player with this type of quality. It's rare to find that quality at 20 years old. He has the chance to improve, but I think we're lucky to have him in our squad (...). This team gives me a lot of confidence," he said.
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena (Los Angeles, USA), with an overwhelming majority of white fans in the stands, hosted this match in which Madrid turned the score around in the second half after trailing 0-2 at halftime.
Carlo Ancelotti debuted the 4-4-2 with a diamond in the center, which he has practiced in recent days and which is a tactical scheme that he wants to apply this new season. He also gave starting minutes to three of his signings for this year, all of them in attack: Bellingham as a striker and Joselu and Brahim in striker.
The only one of the 'new' who did not play against Milan was the Turkish Arda Güler, who had missed the last training session on Saturday due to physical discomfort. With Kroos as the axis of the diamond, Madrid began by associating well in the center and finding depth on the wings with Lucas Vázquez and Mendy.
The first Merengue warning came before the 10 minute mark was up with a sharp, low shot from Valverde that skimmed the post. Brahim, against the team in which he played on loan for the last three years, began to show himself between the lines and combine with Bellingham, who also moved with ease in that no man's land. However, an error in the start by Mendy and Camavinga enabled Colombo, who in minute 17 unleashed a left-footed shot that did not go far from Lunin's goal.
It seemed that Madrid had more presence in attack -although without clear arrivals-, but at minute 25 a serious mistake in the mark by Militao and Nacho in a corner left Tomori completely alone, who scored at will and with a header from the small area.
The goal encouraged Milan, who only two minutes later touched the second with a shot from outside the area by Messias Jr. that almost missed the net. It had the opposite effect on Madrid, who could not find the route to the Milan goal and who also continued to appear too hesitant in defence.
Thus, a faulty clearance by Nacho ended up in the recovery of the "rossonero" team and in a ball in the front for the Argentine Luka Romero, who had just come on to replace Messias Jr. and who shone with a beautiful left-footed shot to the Lunin squad.
Ancelotti's carousel of changes came at halftime with eight substitutions at once which, among other things, led to the departure of a Joselu with little luck in his debut and the first minutes of Fran García.
The entry of the Brazilian duo Vinícius-Rodrygo in the offensive gave Madrid much more spark and extra spice at the restart. Rodrygo was about to score after a good foray down the right but his shot was stopped by Sportiello.
However, the Milan goalkeeper was the protagonist inadvertently in 57 with a huge blunder. Valverde took a long shot without much danger and the ball slipped past a Sportiello with plasticine hands.
Two minutes later, the Uruguayan tied the match, taking advantage of another Milan mistake. Krunic fell asleep starting the play, Valverde stole his wallet and sealed the equalizer with a good shot. Bellingham played 63 minutes in his first game as a merengue, left a good feeling and was applauded by the stands.
Milan made ten changes at once and had several clear chances thanks to Giroud and a Romero who caressed his double target, but both ran into a solid Lunin under the arc.
The red and black team forgave too much and Madrid made them pay for it. Modric pulled a perfect pass into the hole for Vinícius Jr. out of his hat and the Brazilian, chanted by the Rose Bowl throughout the second half, resolved with aplomb to give Madrid their first win of this preseason.
3. Real Madrid: Monday; Vazquez (Carvajal, m.46), Nacho (Praise, m.46), Militao (Rudiger, m.46), Mendy (Fran Garcia, m.46); Kroos (Tchouameni, 46), Valverde, Camavinga (Modric, 46), Bellingham (Nico Paz, 63); Joselu (Vinicius Jr., m.46), Brahim (Rodrigo, m.46).
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti.
2. Milan: Sportiello (Maignan, m.70); Calabria (Saelemaekers, 70 m), Simic (Kjaer, 70 m), Tomori (Thiaw, 70 m), Florenzi (Hernandez, 70 m); Krunic (De Ketelare, m.70), Loftus-Cheek (Adli, m.70), Pobega (Reijnders, m.70); Messiah Jr. (Romero, m.32), Colombo (Giroud, m.70), Pulisic (Leao, m.70).
Coach: Stefano Pioli.
Quaffle: 0-1, m.25: Tomori. 0-2, m.42: Romero. 1-2, m.57: Valverde. 2-2, m.59: Valverde. 3-2, m.84: Vinícius Jr.
Referee: Timothy Ford. He booked Romero at Milan.
Incidents: Friendly match played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (Los Angeles, USA) in front of 70,814 spectators.
