Milan came back to beat Lumezzane 3-2 in their first winter break friendly, including a well-taken Yacine Adli solo run and change of system.
Serie A is currently taking time off for the 2022 World Cup and is set to resume from January 4, so teams are training and playing friendly tests to keep their fitness levels up.
Stefano Pioli performed a few experiments for the occasion, starting against Serie D side Lumezzane with a 3-5-2 formation.
It was a bad start, as Lumezzane took the lead after 10 minutes with Cristian Spini’s dipping strike and threatened to double their advantage, until Adli turned on the style by dribbling past the entire defence from midfield to equalise.
Lumezzane got back in front with Mattia Mauri’s scorcher into the top corner from distance and Milan’s youth team players completed the comeback with Gabriele Alesi and Victor Eletu for a final 3-2 victory.
It was a game lasting just 80 minutes, with 40 minutes for each half.
Brahim Diaz, Alexis Saelemaekers and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were on the treatment table.
Milan will face Arsenal on December 13 and Liverpool on December 16 for the Dubai Super Cup, then PSV Eindhoven on December 30.
Milan 3-2 Lumezzane
Spini 10 (L), Adli 51 (M), Mauri 55 (L), Alesi 68 (M), Eletu 78 (M)
Milan: Tatarusanu (Mirante 41); Bakoune, Gabbia, Tomori (Thiaw 61); Pobega (Bozzolan 61). Tonali (Eletu 61), Vranckx (Foglio 61), Krunic (Gala 61), Adli (Alesi 61); Rebic (Lazetic 61), Origi (El Hilali 61)