Match Preview

For the 39th year, Real Madrid will participate in the annual Trofeo Santiago Bernabéu. It will be the first official match at the Bernabéu for the 2018/19 season before Real opens up the new La Liga next Sunday against Getafe.

The last time these clubs met was back in 2015 in the International Champions Cup in Shanghai. Real are coming off a 2-1 win over Roma in their final match in the International Champions Cup. AC Milan are coming off an extra-time 1-0 win over Barcelona in their U.S. preseason campaign.

With this being the actual final preseason friendly before the Super Cup on Wednesday, Real are looking to defend the Trofeo Bernabéu yet again. They haven’t lost a match since 2004 when they lost 1-0 to Liga MX’s Pumas.

Injuries/Suspensions

Real Madrid will still be without Jesus Vallejo, who is suffering from a hamstring injury. They may also be without Alvaro Odriozola and Nacho who also picked up injury. It is still unknown whether all three will be available for the Super Cup.

AC Milan will be without fullback Andrea Conti, who may be out until September for the Rossoneri.

Potential XIs

Real Madrid

Casilla; Carvajal, Sánchez, Ramos, Reguilón; Ceballos, Llorente, Valverde; Vasquez, Asensio, Mayoral

With the Super Cup coming up, Real could sit many of their usual starters for the match. Lopetegui could choose to give time to some players who didn’t start that much or at all for the International Champions Cup. He may also elect to field the same lineup in the first 45 minutes ahead of the Super Cup instead.

Given that there it is still a preseason match and substitutions are unlimited, the regulars can come on and get some minutes before the big match on Wednesday. With Nacho and Odriozola taking knocks, it’s likely they won’t hit the pitch as precautionary measures; unless they really aren’t the injuries are really not that serious.

AC Milan

Donnarumma; Calabria, Musacchio, Romagnoli, Rodriguez; Kessie, Locatelli, Calhanoglu; Suso, Borini, Cutrone

Prediction

Real Madrid-AC Milan 2-1

This is a great opportunity to prepare for the Super Cup on Wednesday as well as give some minutes to some of the substitutes. It’s a good chance to get one last full session in before they’re off to Estonia to take on Atlético.

Milan haven’t scored a lot this preseason fielding this lineup, but they’ve also limited the goals that have gone in each match. Real had themselves a very promising preseason, dropping just one match to Manchester United and winning their last two.

While Real will want to defend their stadium’s namesake trophy in front of their home crowd, they also don’t want to risk injury and will likely be around the competitive level of the ICC matches. It will be good to see Los Blancos play back in their own home prior to the new season next week.