Manchester City vs AC Milan Prediction: Manchester City may face an uphill battle against AC Milan, with the Italian side potentially edging out a 3-2 victory in this pre-season friendly at Yankee Stadium.
As part of their pre-season preparations, Manchester City and AC Milan are gearing up for an intriguing friendly clash at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The match, scheduled for July 27, 2024, at 10:00 PM local time, promises to be an exciting encounter between two European heavyweights.
Match Details
| Match | Man City vs. AC Milan |
| Competition | Club Friendlies |
| Date | July 27, 2024 |
| Time | 22:00 UTC |
| Venue | Yankee Stadium (New York City) |
Match Preview
Both teams enter this fixture with contrasting recent form. Manchester City, fresh off their fourth consecutive Premier League title, will be looking to bounce back from a narrow 4-3 defeat against Celtic in their previous friendly. The Citizens, under Pep Guardiola’s guidance, are fine-tuning their squad for the upcoming season, with an eye on the Community Shield clash against Manchester United on August 10th.
AC Milan, on the other hand, are in a period of transition. With new manager Paulo Fonseca at the helm, the Rossoneri are adapting to a fresh tactical approach. Their pre-season form has been underwhelming so far, with no wins in their two friendlies. This match against City presents a stern test and an opportunity for Milan to gauge their progress under Fonseca.
Predicted Manchester City vs AC Milan Lineups and Formations
Predicted Manchester City Lineup (4-3-3): McAtee, Ortega, Bobb, Grealish, Wilson-Esbrand, Perrone, Haaland, Phillips, Mbete, Lewis, Simpson-Pusey
Predicted AC Milan Lineup (4-3-3): Liberali, Colombo, Sportiello, Florenzi, Traore, Calabria, Chukwueze, Jimenez, Tomori, Bennacer, Pobega
Guardiola is likely to field a mix of youth and experience, with several first-team regulars still on extended breaks following international duties. Milan’s lineup could see a blend of established stars and promising youngsters as Fonseca assesses his squad depth.
Injury Updates and Unavailable Players
Manchester City:
Manchester City will be missing several key players for this friendly encounter:
- Rodri: Sidelined due to an unspecified injury
- Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, and Phil Foden: These players are likely to miss out as they are still on extended breaks following their participation in the Euros and Copa America
- Ederson Moraes: His availability is uncertain amid transfer speculation linking him to the Saudi Pro League
Pep Guardiola will have to rely on a mix of youth players and available first-team members to fill the gaps left by these absences.
AC Milan:
The Rossoneri also have some notable absentees:
- Alvaro Morata: The new signing is unavailable for this fixture, having recently participated in Euro 2024
- Rafael Leão and Mike Maignan: Both players are expected to miss this match as they recover from their international duties
Manager Paulo Fonseca will use this opportunity to assess the depth of his squad and give playing time to some of the less experienced members of the team.
Key Players to Watch
For City, all eyes will be on Erling Haaland, who found the net in their recent friendly against Celtic. The Norwegian striker’s lethal finishing could prove decisive. Jack Grealish may also feature prominently as he looks to build on his improved form from last season.
Milan will rely on the experience of Fikayo Tomori in defense and the creativity of Ismael Bennacer in midfield. New signing Samuel Chukwueze could make his debut, adding an exciting dimension to Milan’s attack.
Where to Watch
US viewers can catch the action live on ESPN+, ESPN, or ESPN Deportes. The match will also be available for streaming on fuboTV and the ESPN App.
Live Streaming and TV Schedule for Other Countries:
- UK: Premier Sports Player, CITY+, Premier Sports 1
- Italy: DAZN Italia, CITY+, SportItalia
- Spain: Movistar+, CITY+, Movistar Champions Tour
- Germany: CITY+, Sportdigital FUSSBALL
- France: CITY+, L’Équipe Live Foot
- Brazil: CITY+, Zapping, Claro TV+, Max, Sky+, Vivo Play, TNT Brasil
- Canada: fuboTV Canada, CITY+
International viewers should check their local listings, as many countries offer coverage through various sports channels and streaming platforms.
Head-to-Head and Recent Form
Historically, encounters between these two sides have been rare and evenly matched. Their last meeting in a friendly saw Manchester City emerge victorious with a 5-1 win in 2014. However, given the nature of pre-season friendlies and the time elapsed since then, past results may have little bearing on this encounter.
City’s recent form has been strong, culminating in their Premier League triumph. However, their loss to Celtic in their last friendly suggests they’re still finding their rhythm. Milan’s form has been less convincing, with draws and losses in their recent outings.
Who Will Win
Given Manchester City’s depth and quality, even with a rotated squad, they enter as favorites. However, Milan’s desire to impress under new management could lead to an entertaining and closely fought match.
Manchester City vs AC Milan Prediction: Manchester City 2-3 AC Milan
This friendly promises to be an intriguing tactical battle between two storied clubs, offering fans a glimpse of potential stars for the upcoming season. While the result may not be crucial, both teams will be eager to build momentum and cohesion as they prepare for their respective domestic campaigns.
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