Milan conquered Valencia 2-1 at the Mestalla and will therefore face Inter or Chelsea in the Guinness International Champions Cup.
This was the opening match of the Guinness International Champions Cup and, unlike the rest of the tournament to be played in the United States, was at the Mestalla in Valencia.
Milan conquered Valencia 2-1 at the Mestalla and will therefore face Inter or Chelsea in the Guinness International Champions Cup.
This was the opening match of the Guinness International Champions Cup and, unlike the rest of the tournament to be played in the United States, was at the Mestalla in Valencia.
Other teams in the competition are Real Madrid, Juventus, Inter, Chelsea, Everton and LA Galaxy. Milan will face the winners of Chelsea-Inter on August 4 in New York.
Christian Abbiati was called into action early on when Ever Banega dispossessed Philippe Mexes, then Vicente Guaita brought down Andrea Poli. Robinho stepped up for the penalty, but hit a weak effort straight into the arms of the goalkeeper, just days after ballooning another spot-kick over the bar against Sassuolo.
Robinho made up for the error moments later, springing the offside trap from a Poli through ball to place the angled drive into the far bottom corner.
The Brazilian’s evening took another twist when he picked up an injury and had to make way for Urby Emanuelson.
Nigel De Jong confirmed his Achilles tendon injury is behind him with a fantastic goal, thumping a right-foot screamer into the top corner from outside the box.
The Dutchman almost added a second with his free kick just wide of the upright, but Valencia got one back with a very well-worked goal. A chipped Jonas pass over the top was rolled across by Alcacer for Dani Parejo to sidefoot home from close range.
Emanuelson forced a corner, while Alcacer’s strike and a Banega free kick skimmed the woodwork. Milan were fortunate to hang on to the lead when Federico Cartabia’s rocket rattled the crossbar in the final minutes. Fede had another fierce strike that stung Gabriel’s palms and the Brazilian goalkeeper had to deny a Jonathan Viera header too.
It was a siege in stoppages as Milan ran out of steam and Cristian Zaccardo’s goalline clearance was crucial.
Valencia 1-2 Milan
Scorers: Robinho 22 (M), De Jong 38 (M), Dani Parejo 53 (V)
Saved penalty: Robinho 21 (M)
Valencia: Guaita (Diego Alves 46); Joao, Rami, Ricardo Costa, Mathieu (Guardado 66) (Fede 74); Javi Fuego (Jonathan Viera 66), Dani Parejo (Oriol Romeu 66); Feghouli, Ever Banega (Michel 66), Jonas (Bernat 66); Alcacer
Milan: Abbiati (Gabriel 46); Antonini, Bonera (Zaccardo 71), Mexes, Constant; Nocerino, De Jong (Cristante 62); Poli (Muntari 46), Robinho (Emanuelson 25), Boateng (El Shaarawy 69); Petagna (Niang 82)