Real Madrid beats AC Milan to win Champions Cup

Both teams found it hard to adjust to the hot and humid conditions in a cagey affair with few chances.

Bacca nearly opened his Milan account in spectacular fashion with a thunderous strike that was destined for the back of the net until Casilla denied him with an outstanding reflex save on the hour-mark.

Real ended up winning 10-9 on penalties, after Milan’s 16-year-old goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, saw his penalty saved.

Milan finished the first-half in Real’s box, with another long range effort from Niang forcing Keylor Navas into making a save, although he always look comfortable in keeping the ball out.

Niang then tried his luck after a good corner routine with Suso, drifting to the left-hand corner of the box before curling an effort which Navas had to parry away.

61′ – CASILLA SAVE – Zapta heads his cross at the back post for Bacca, and he volleys a shot that Casilla has to leap to get a hand to it.

Bacca and Adriano combined well in the 81 minute, with the Colombian forward leaving Real’s defender’s for dead, but his shot on goal was saved by Real’s new shot-stopper once again.

The 10-9 shootout win sealed the Asian edition of the global Champions Cup for Madrid, who also won the tournament played in Australia earlier this month involving Roma and Manchester City.

More substitutes from both sides seemed to break the flow of the game, and after 75 minutes the score was still at 0-0. Neither side will be anxious by their showing, with a lack of fitness and the number of substitutions made throughout the match, but the quality of performances was severely below what will be needed when their respective seasons begin.

French striker Karim Benzema and Croatian attacking midfielder are in contention to be included in Real’s starting lineup against AC Milan after missing Monday’s pre-season clash against Inter Milan due to minor knocks. His energy and short passing was the most effective part of Real Madrid’s first half performance, and this may be useful against teams who sit back against them in La Liga.