Good afternoon!
Real Madrid will be hoping to lift their second International Champions Cup of the pre-season when they take on
AC Milan at the Shanghai Stadium in China in just under an hour's time. Both sides have already won once in this version of the tournament, beating Inter Milan earlier this week.
Here's a look at Real Madrid training at the home of Chinese club Shanghai East Asia. The 56,842-seater Shanghai Stadium opened in 1997, and hosted part of the football competition at the 2008 Olympics. The SuperCoppa Italiana will take place at the ground next month, with Juventus taking on Lazio:
These two sides actually played a friendly just over seven months ago, meeting in a mid-season friendly in Dubai. On that occasion, it was the Italian side that secured a 4-2 victory, while the last competitive meeting between the two teams was in the Champions League in 2010, when they shared a 2-2 draw in the group stage of the competition.
Right then, the lineups have just been announced for this afternoon's match, so let's take a look at the starting XIs...
REAL MADRID STARTING XI: Navas, Varane,
Pepe, Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale, Casemiro, Arbeloa, Vazquez, Modric, Danilo
AC MILAN STARTING XI: Lopez, De Sciglio, Alex, Ely, Antonelli, Poli, De Jong, Bertolacci, Suso, Niang, Cerci
So for Real Madrid there are five changes to the side that thrashed Inter Milan 3-0 earlier this week.
Karim Benzema returns to the starting lineup to resume the three-pronged attack with Ronaldo and Bale. Rafael Varane, Alviro Arbeloa, Lucas Vazquez and Luka Modric also come in, with
Toni Kroos, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos,
Jese and Isco all missing out.
AC Milan make just three changes following their win over Roberto Mancini's side a couple of days before Real's clash with Inter. Calabria, Honda and Matri drop out, making way for Luca Antonelli, Suso and
Alessio Cerci. Cerci's inclusion is particularly interesting, as he is on loan from Real's neighbours Atletico Madrid.
Karim Benzema's involvement for Real Madrid is also worth a mention. The Frenchman has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, and was absent from the start of the team's pre-season, but his involvement today suggests that Benitez is planning for the striker to be at the Bernabeu for the start of the campaign.
Milan are already going through their warmups ready for kickoff, which is just over half an hour away now:
For Real Madrid, the start of the La Liga season is still a few weeks away. They start the new league season with a trip to newly-promoted Sporting Gijon on August 23. AC Milan have a trickier start to their campaign in Serie A though, as they are away at Fiorentina.
Speaking about this afternoon's opponents, Benitez said at his pre-match press conference: "It is a club I like a lot. The [managerial] change means they are still very ambitious and they want to get better. They have big players, and a big manager who made a great season last year [with Sampdoria], and I am pretty sure they will be successful in the future."
Andrea Bertolacci and Rodrigo Ely are both starting in defence for the Italian side. They're newcomers for Milan this season, with Ely joining from Avellino and Betolacci joining from Genoa last month.
Here's
Gareth Bale leading Real Madrid out for their warmups just a short while ago:
Real Madrid are still being linked with several big transfers this summer, with players said to on their way in and our of the Bernabeu. Persistent talk of David de Gea joining Real from Manchester United is yet to die down, although the Spaniard has been involved with Louis van Gaal's side in America. Sergio Ramos had been linked with a move away, but he's now said to have agreed a contract extension.
AC Milan have not been immune to transfer talk either, with Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic among those linked with the San Siro. He's insisted that his next club will be a surprise though, so it sounds like the talk is wide of the mark.
PREDICTION! Kickoff isn't all that far away now, so there's just time for a prediction. Real Madrid have looked sensational since a stuttering performance against Roma, and have named a strong side for this match. The Italians won't be a pushover, but the La Liga side should have enough to clinch the win, so I'm going for a 3-1 win for Benitez's side.
It's a wonderful atmosphere at the stadium, which is close to capacity as kickoff approaches. Both sides appear to be well supported, with hoards of fans greeting both squads as they arrived at the stadium a little earlier.
The players make their way out of the tunnel to a huge roar from the Shanghai crowd. Kickoff should be just a few moments away now.
KICKOFF! AC Milan get the action underway.
Benzema tries to get involved early on for Real as the Frenchman charges towards the AC Milan box before passing out wide to Ronaldo. The Portuguese looks to get a cross in, but it goes behind for a goal kick.
CHANCE! Luca Antonelli slips between a couple of defender before holding off Modric and getting a shot away, but Raphael Varane is there to make the block before Keylor Navas is called into action.
Real are on the back foot so far as
M'baye Niang provides another dangerous cross into the La Liga side's box, but Navas is quickly off his line to claim it. The winger has been looking lively so far.
Antonelli catches the attention of the referee with a late challenge on Lucas, giving Real Madrid a free kick just inside their own half. Aside from Benzema's early break, there hasn't been much action inside the Milan half so far.
Bale suddenly bursts through the middle before finding Vazquez, but his run stalls, allowing Suso to take it back the other way for Milan. Ronaldo was lurking ahead, but he's been fairly isolated so far.
Vazquez weaves his way to the edge of the Milan box before winning Real's first corner of the match. Modric curls it in, but it's easily headed clear by Alex, leaving
Diego Lopez still relatively untroubled in the Italian side's goal.
Bale has it in midfield again as Real are certainly starting to see more of the ball. He attempts to pick out Vazquez with a pacy through-ball, but the midfielder's first touch is lacking, allowing Lopez to gather.
Vazquez uses his pace to surge away from Ely, but he's crowded out before he can pull the ball back into the path of the onrushing Benzema. Ronaldo quickly wins it back in midfield and makes a fresh run, but Milan still have numbers back.
Ronaldo has been starting to get himself open a little more often, as Real continue to enjoy the majority of the possession. However, just as it looks like he might finally get a shot away, he loses his footing on the edge of the box, wasting the opportunity. Chances really have been scarce so far, but it's a very open match between the boxes.
Bale battles hard near the corner flag as he tries to create the space to get a cross in, but De Jong is on hand to close him down, resulting in the ball going out for a Milan throw in.
Real are starting to show a bit more intent in the Milan box, with Danilo attempting to rifle the ball in with a volley, but he can only smash the ball wide.
The players make their way to the sideline for a drinks break as it's currently around 32 degrees in the stadium.
The action is back underway now that the players have taken on some water, but there hasn't been too much of note so far. Milan are trying to get back on the ball after Real have dominated possession so far, but the Italian side have prevented them from creating more than a couple of half-chances. The Serie A club just seems happy to keep the ball among the defenders for now, while looking for a long ball forward.
CHANCE! Ronaldo suddenly adds an injection of pace through the middle before backheeling the ball to Danilo. The midfielder crosses the ball in towards Benzema, who rises high in the box to get a header away, but it's wide of the target. Despite the inaccurate finish, that's probably the best chance Real have had so far.
CHANCE! Niang showed some immense pace in the opening 10 minutes, and he uses his quick feet again to slip past
Pepe, leaving him with only Navas to beat. However, he loses his footing as he makes the shot, allowing the keeper to block it before the pair collide, leaving the Milan midfielder is some pain.
Milan are finishing the first half strongly as Niang and De Jong patiently work the ball through midfield. Cerci has been quiet so far though, and the duo can't work the ball through to the on-loan Atletico Madrid striker.
Taking the drinks break and the injury to Niang into account, there will be three minutes of stoppage time.
HALF TIME: Real Madrid 0-0 AC Milan
Pepe and Varane pass the ball around the back to run down the remaining few seconds, bringing an end to the opening 45 minutes in Shanghai. The hot and humid conditions are obviously having an effect on the players, with chances very much at a premium so far, but that means it's finely poised for the second half.
As with most pre-season match, it's likely that substitution will be plentiful at the start of the second period. Both sides have 17 players on their substitutes bench, although the rules of the International Champions Cup restrict them to making just 11 changes in total.
M'Baye Niang has been the pick of the players for Milan so far, showing excellent pace down the left flank to provide a couple of excellent crosses, while also taking on a couple of shots himself.
Alessio Cerci could do with some more help up front though, and with Carloc Bacca and Alessandro Matri available for the Italians, a change seems likely.
For Madrid, Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema have all had the odd bright moment, but they haven't looked at their best. James Rodriguez and
Jese were both among the goals against Inter Milan earlier this week, and would be good options if the BBC start to grow weary.
The players are starting to make their way back out ready for the second half. We'll being you the details of any changes as soon as we have them all confirmed.
While both sides are preparing a string of changes, here's a quick look at the Milan players during the first-half drinks break.
RESTART! Real Madrid get the second half underway.
SUBS! There are several changes for AC Milan, with Honda, Adrian, Mexes, Bacca and Montolivo all coming on, with Suso, Poli, Niang, Bertolacci and Cerci making way.
SUBS! Real Madrid have make changes too, with Navas, Vazquez and Benzema making way for Kroos, Casilla and Ramos coming on.
Bacca and Honda have already proved a lively pairing, with the Japan international playing the ball through to the striker, but Bacca was unable to slice it past the keeper.
CHANCE! Jese comes close to setting up the opening goal as he plays the ball through to Kroos, but it's deflected behind for a corner. Mauri concedes a free kick just outside the box as Kroos curls the ball back in, giving Real a free kick in a dangerous position.
Gareth Bale lines the resulting set piece up on the right-hand side of the box, attempting to curl it into the top left with his left foot, bit it doesn't quite curl enough, leaving Lopez untroubled in the Milan goal.
Bale is looking to make amends for his missed free kick as he breaks into the Milan box again, winning a corner. Isco curls it back in, but the Welshman can't get his header on target.
CHANCE! The best chance of the match so far falls to
Cristiano Ronaldo as he leaps high to nod the ball towards the bottom of the net after a fantastic cross from Isco, but Lopez somehow manages to kick the ball off the line.
CHANCE! There have been more chances in the first 15 minutes of the second half than there were throughout the entire first half!
Carlos Bacca has the best attempt of the game so far for Milan, drilling the ball towards the Real goal from the edge of the box, but Casilla got one hand to the ball to tip it away.
CHANCE! It's end to end stuff at the moment as Ronaldo sprints down the right before lifting the ball over the top to Bale at the far post, but Zapata gets to to first. The loose ball drops to Isco, but he's closed down as he attempts to get the shot away.
Mattia de Sciglio gets forward to try to help Milan finally break the deadlock, but his low cross is easily dealt with be Pepe. Meanwhile, it looks like Real are getting ready to make a few more changes.
CHANCE! Bale gets the ball 20 yards out, and has no-one ahead of him so has to improvise, chipping the ball over a couple of defenders. It looks like it's going to be an easy stop for Lopez, but he spills the initial effort before gathering at the second time of asking.
SUB! Ronaldo's day is done as Denis Cheryshev takes his place for the Spanish side, while Nacho takes over from Pepe at the back.
CHANCE! Milan are on the attack again as Bacca squares the ball to Mauri just outside the penalty area. The midfielder strikes it first time, but his effort is wide of the target.
With 15 minutes still to play, it's time for another water break. The players that have been on since the first half look exhausted as they make their way to the sideline for refreshments.
Milan have upped the tempo a little since the drinks break as they push for a late winner. Zapata comes out from the back to try to set up Bacca, but Real get numbers back to block his path.
During the drinks break, Milan made another substitution, replacing
Diego Lopez with 16-year-old keeper
Gianluigi Donnarumma.
CHANCE! Sergio Ramos slips inside his own half, leaving Bacca to charge towards the Real goal. He has only Casilla to beat, but hits his finish straight at the goalkeeper, allowing him to punch it clear.
Isco finds James Rodriguez out wide, leaving the Colombian to cross the ball in. It eventually falls to Marcelo, who plays it back to Rodriguez, but he can only force a corner.
Real have had the majority of the possession in the last five minutes as the full-time whistle approaches. They haven't been able to put Milan's teenage keeper under any real pressure since he replaced Lopez though.
Keisuke Honda loses the ball inside the Milan half, allowing Kroos to fire a long ball forward, but Mexes is able to deal with it before the ball gets to the Milan box. Should the scores remain level after the full-time whistle, the match will be decided on a penalty shootout.
Marcelo attempts one final push for Real, put Milan aren't taking any chances, with seven players inside the box waiting for the defender's move.
SUB! Milan appear to be bringing a penalty-taker on as Mexes is replaced by Alessandro Matri just moments before the full-time whistle.
FULL TIME: Real Madrid 0-0 AC Milan
So, it's penalty shootout time! All eyes will surely be on Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The 16-year-old hasn't had much to do since coming on late in the second half, but he'll surely be keen to impress.
Real Madrid 1-0 AC Milan James Rodriguez makes no mistake with the first spot kick.
Real Madrid 1-1 AC Milan Nigel de Jong finds the bottom left corner.
Real Madrid 2-1 AC Milan Marcelo is the third player in a row to go to the left, and he's the third to score
Real Madrid 2-2 AC Milan Alessandro Matri's first touch of the match is his penalty, and he thumps it into the roof of the net.
Real Madrid 3-2 AC Milan Casemiro waits for the teenage keeper to make the first move before firing home.
Real Madrid 3-2 AC Milan Carlos Bacca has missed! He sent Casilla the wrong way, but then struck the ball wide of the right post.
Real Madrid 4-2 AC Milan Madrid keep their 100% record, so Milan have to score next.
Real Madrid 4-3 AC Milan Keisuke Honda calmly converts, but Real can win it next.
Real Madrid 4-3 AC Milan What a moment for Donnarumma! The 16-year-old denies Kroos to keep the Italian side in it.
Real Madrid 4-4 AC Milan Luiz Adriano picks out the bottom left to get the scores back on level terms.
Real Madrid 5-4 AC Milan Carvahal fires straight down the middle.
Real Madrid 5-5 AC Milan Riccardo Montolivo calmly converts his spot kick.
Real Madrid 6-5 AC Milan Nacho powerfully slots the ball past the Milan keeper.
Real Madrid 6-6 AC Milan Cristian Zapata just squeezes the ball past Casilla.
Real Madrid 7-6 AC Milan Cheryshev goes straight down the middle to keep the pressure on Milan.
Real Madrid 7-7 AC Milan Jose Mauri goes for power over accuracy, but it works to keep the Serie A side in contention.
Real Madrid 8-7 AC Milan Isco goes for a cheeky chip to the right of Donnarumma.
Real Madrid 8-8 AC Milan Davide Calbria makes it 8-8. It won't be long before the keepers are needed for their spot kicks!
Real Madrid 9-8 AC Milan A slower runner from Jese deceives the keeper to put Real back ahead.
Real Madrid 9-9 AC Milan Paletta makes no mistake to keep the shootout alive.
Real Madrid 10-9 AC Milan Casilla goes straight down the middle!
Real Madrid 10-9 AC Milan Donnarumma can't score with his spot kick as he tries to mimmick Casilla, but the Real keeper is alert to the danger and blocks it.
Real Madrid 0-0 AC Milan (Real Madrid win 10-9 on penalties)
Well, that was quite a penalty shootout, and it means Real Madrid have won their second International Champions Cup of the pre-season. Donnarumma will be pleased to have denied
Toni Kroos if disappointed not to have scored with his own spot kick.
That's all from this match, but stick around as we'll have player ratings and match analysis to follow shortly. Thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.