AC Milan began their preseason friendly campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Lemino Almenno at Milanello this afternoon.
The game was not two halves of 45 minutes but rather three periods of 20 minutes as has become commonplace for the curtain-raising preseason game at Milan’s training centre, and all three goals came in the opening third.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
Junior Messias was the man who got the scoring underway. The ball was won back high up the field and Tommaso Pobega found Yacine Adli – making his first preseason outing for the club – who rolled it into the path of the Brazilian winger who took a touch, switched onto his left foot and fired inside the far post.
The second goal came via Ante Rebic and it was not too dissimilar to the equaliser he scored against Salernitana in the 2-2 draw last season, as the Croatian picked the ball up between 20 and 25 yards out, firing into the bottom left corner.
The final goal came via a corner kick as Matteo Gabbia got on the scoresheet with a simple finish from close range. The remaining 40 minutes were goalless as Brahim Diaz and Daniel Maldini missed a big chance each, but it must be said the side from the fourth-tier did also defend resolutely.
Brahim Diaz managed to be the worst player on the field that was filled with, back ups, academy team players and amateur players
You’re missing the point of pre-season matches.