Jude Bellingham made his first appearance for Real Madrid in their opening Soccer Champions Tour 2023 match with Milan at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles.
Fikayo Tomori and Luka Romero started the lead for AC Milan in the first half before Federico Valverde’s goals, scored twice, leveled the game.
Madrid’s Vinicius Junior then scored the decisive goal in the 83rd minute and ended the first preseason friendly with a 3-2 scorecard against Milan.
Bellingham started in the opening lineup before he was replaced in the 64th minute by Nico Paz. Joselu and Brahim Diaz were also selected by coach Carlo Ancelotti as part of the starting XI.
Fran Garcia came on as one of eight half-time changes, and Arda Guler missed the game due to a muscular issue.
“I’m already counting, I don’t know how many goals [Ancelotti] is going to want from me [this season],” Valverde said, after the Italian joked that he would “tear up his coaching license” if Valverde didn’t get into double figures last campaign. “I feel good. I’m motivated to keep winning things at this club.”
Christian Pulisic was part of the opener for Milan and gave an assist for Tomori’s goal before being substituted for Rafael Leao in the 70th minute.
Sunday’s match saw Real Madrid display a new 4-4-2 formation with a midfield diamond, with Bellingham playing behind Diaz and Joselu.
“I liked it,” Ancelotti said in his post-match news conference, when asked about the change of system.
“There are some things we have to change a bit. It was hard for us to play out from the back… Bellingham’s positioning was good, he played a good game. The team has to get used to his quality.”
There was a hiccup during the game when ESPN analyst Shaka Hislop collapsed on the field.
He was speaking on camera with co-host Dan Thomas when he stumbled and fell toward his partner. Thomas immediately gestured for assistance to get on the field.
Thomas at half-time said that Hislop was conscious and talking with medics after receiving treatment at the stadium.
AC Milan will face Juventus on Thursday and Barcelona on Aug. 1, before beginning Serie A with a trip to face Bologna on Aug. 21.
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