Barcelona vs AC Milan Prediction: Barcelona and AC Milan are likely to play out an entertaining 2-2 draw in their friendly match at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
The historic M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland will play host to an enticing pre-season friendly between Spanish powerhouse Barcelona and Italian giants AC Milan on Tuesday. This high-profile matchup is part of the Soccer Champions Tour 2024 and promises to be an intriguing encounter between two of Europe’s most storied clubs.
Match Preview
Both Barcelona and AC Milan enter this clash in fine pre-season form, with neither side tasting defeat in their warm-up fixtures so far. The Catalan outfit are coming off an impressive 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid, while the Rossoneri secured a notable 1-0 win against the same opponents in their previous outing.
Barcelona’s new manager Hansi Flick has quickly implemented his tactical philosophy, with the team showing promising signs in their recent performances. The emergence of young talents like 22-year-old striker Pau Victor, who netted a brace against Real Madrid, has been particularly encouraging for the Blaugrana faithful.
AC Milan, under the guidance of Paulo Fonseca, have also looked sharp in pre-season. The Italian side’s blend of experience and youthful exuberance has caught the eye, with new signing Samu Chukwueze already making his mark by scoring the winner against Real Madrid.
Barcelona vs AC Milan Lineups and Formations
Barcelona Lineup (4-3-3): Christensen, Fort, Raphinha, Gundogan, Ter Stegen, Casado, Torre, Martinez, Lewandowski, Balde, Victor
AC Milan Lineup (4-2-3-1): Jovic, Leao, Pobega, Tomori, Thiaw, Calabria, Torriani, Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek, Musah, Jimenez
Injured and Unavailable Players
Barcelona:
- Ronald Araujo (thigh injury)
- Pedri (knee injury)
- Gavi (ACL injury)
- Frenkie de Jong (ankle injury)
- Ansu Fati (heel injury)
- Vitor Roque (recovering from ankle issue)
- Lamine Yamal (on holiday after Euro 2024)
- Ferran Torres (on holiday after Euro 2024)
- Jules Kounde (back in training, but not expected to play)
AC Milan:
- Alessandro Florenzi (long-term ACL injury)
- Ismael Bennacer (training individually, unlikely to feature)
- Tijjani Reijnders (just returned from Euro 2024, not in match squad)
- Mike Maignan (just returned from Euro 2024, not in match squad)
- Theo Hernandez (just returned from Euro 2024, not in match squad)
Where to Watch
US viewers can catch the action live on ESPN+ and the ESPN App. Here’s the live streaming and TV schedule for other countries:
- Great Britain: Premier Sports Player, Premier Sports 2
- Spain: Movistar+, TV3, Movistar Champions Tour 2, Vamos
- Italy: DAZN Italia
- Germany: DAZN Germany, Sportdigital FUSSBALL
- France: L’Équipe Live Foot
- Brazil: Zapping, Claro TV+, Sky+, Vivo Play, Space Brazil
- Canada: fuboTV Canada
Who Will Win?
This friendly encounter is likely to be a closely contested affair. Both sides boast attacking talent capable of turning the game in an instant. Barcelona’s fluid attacking style under Flick could pose problems for Milan’s defense, but the Italian side’s counter-attacking prowess shouldn’t be underestimated.
Given the pre-season context and the quality on both sides, a high-scoring draw seems plausible. The predicted score is 2-2, with both teams eager to maintain their unbeaten records while fine-tuning their tactics ahead of the new season.
Key Stats and Form
- Barcelona have won both their pre-season matches so far, including a penalty shootout victory over Manchester City
- AC Milan are unbeaten in three friendlies, with two wins and a draw
- The last competitive meeting between these sides was in 2013, with Barcelona winning 3-1 in the Champions League
Head-to-Head Record
Historically, matches between Barcelona and AC Milan have been tightly contested affairs. Their encounters in the Champions League have produced memorable moments, with both sides enjoying periods of dominance.
Latest News
- Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal is still on holiday after his Euro 2024 triumph with Spain
- AC Milan welcomed back Euro 2024 participants Tijjani Reijnders, Mike Maignan, and Theo Hernandez to training, but they won’t feature in this match
- Portuguese winger Rafael Leao is expected to make his return to action for Milan in this fixture
This friendly presents an excellent opportunity for both teams to gauge their progress ahead of the upcoming season. With a mix of established stars and emerging talents on display, football fans are in for a treat as these European heavyweights lock horns in Baltimore.
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