Real Madrid vs AC Milan

European giants Real Madrid and AC Milan meet in Pasadena, California on Sunday for a pre-season friendly as part of the Soccer Champions Tour.

Los Blancos, looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2022/23 season, are in action for the first time this summer and will tour three other destinations in the United States before La Liga begins in August.

The Rossoneri beat Italian minnows Lumezzane 7-0 before jetting over to North America and are targeting an improved finish in Serie A in 2023/24 after coming fourth last time out alongside a run to the Champions League semi finals.

Here’s what you need to know about this clash.

Summer signings Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler, Fran Garcia and Joselu are included in Real’s traveling squad to America. Brahim Diaz is also involved and could feature against the Milan side he spent last season on loan with.

It’s a new-look Blancos squad with a number of players of varying significance departing in the form of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Eden Hazard and Mariano Diaz.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs AC Milan (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Garcia; Bellingham, Tchouameni, Kroos; Rodrygo, Joselu, Vinicius.

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Milan manager Stefano Pioli has left Divock Origi, Ante Rebic, Mattia Caldara, Fode Ballo-Toure and Marko Lazetic at home with most of the quintet expected to seal transfers away from San Siro.

Rafael Leao, Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez, Charles De Ketelaere and Pierre Kalulu were given extended breaks due to international commitments and may not feature heavily in this contest, so a number of fringe Rossoneri players may bag places in the starting XI.

AC Milan predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-3-3): Sportiello; Calabria, Gabbia, Tomori, Florenzi; Loftus-Cheek, Krunic, Pobega; Messias, Colombo, Pulisic.

It’s very much a new dawn for Real Madrid in their first season with Benzema since 2008/09, when Gonzalo Higuain was their top scorer in La Liga with 22 goals. How Carlo Ancelotti sets his side up will be fascinating with no high profile attacker yet brought in by Los Blancos this summer.

His young and exciting group of players will hope to gel quickly and dominate proceedings against a Milan side that could be missing some of their key stars. If the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Bellingham get going, Real could ease to victory. Never discount the chaos of pre-season taking the result in a completely different direction, mind.

Prediction: Real Madrid 3-1 AC Milan