Match Recap: AC Milan beat Barcelona 1-0 in the ICC

AC Milan and Barcelona played today in California, but you would be forgiven if you gave up and turned off the match.

The next time the referee, the FIGC, or UEFA make a team change their jerseys because of a color clash and you start to complain, think back to this match.

Two teams, on a bright, sunny day in California, both clubs line up with dark colored jerseys on, with the red and blue barca shirts clashing with Milan’s third jersey of black with red sleeves. It made even the most dedicated fan question why they were bothering to watch the match.

This was obviously a pre-season match and it was pretty obvious that both sides just wanted to leave this match without an injury. Gianluigi Donnarumma was the most active of the Milan players, as he saved a few shots as Barcelona tended to dominate possession.

Milan made a few attacking moves, but were slow to the ball in the attacking third and any sense of urgency in possession just didn’t seem to be there.

The second half started much the same way that the first half went, with Milan putting very little pressure on Barca while the Catalan club dominated possession without very many chances on goal.

Donnarumma, once again, handled all of the pressure that was dealt to Milan in the first fifteen minutes, as he came out and dealt with any crosses from open play or from set pieces.

Milan made five changes in the 61st minute, bringing on Abate, Antonelli, Mauri, Halilovic, and Andre Silva for Calabria, Rodriguez, Locatelli, Borini, and Cutrone.

Milan got a few yellow cards in the second half as they seemed to ramp up the physicality on the quicker Barca players. And while it’s not pretty, it can be an effective tactic against teams that are dominating possession.

Donnarumma did very well in the 85th minute to deny a scoring opportunity from Barca, as Semedo was released in the Milan box, only for Gigio to snuff out the ball and send the ball of the Barca fullback for a goal kick.

And of course, since this is exactly how these things always seem to happen, Barca’s failure to convert chances came back to bite them in the end.

Yes, you read that right. Andre Silva, who has been linked with a move away over for weeks now, who scored a grand total of two Serie A goals last season, scored at the death to beat Barcelona. And yes, it was not anywhere close to the starting lineup, and Milan still looked second best for basically the entire match, but hey, a win is a win, right?