International Champions Cup: Benfica Flying the Flag for Portugal!

AC Milan vs Benfica

12 of Europe’s finest teams have assembled over the past two weeks in a pre-season festival of football to whet the appetite of football fans worldwide.

The big names from Spain, Germany, Italy and England have been on show; the Madrid giants and Barcelona, the formidable FC Bayern, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus and a new look Manchester United.

But the eventual victor might well come from Portugal, as Benfica is in with a chance of winning this year’s International Champions Cup after a superb start.

For sure, Bruno Lage’s Benfica are enjoying the SBOBET International Champions Cup so far, with two wins from two, and now they are fancied to put one over on AC Milan.

Talking Points

Milan Expects

Opening its ICC campaign with a 0-1 defeat to FC Bayern wasn’t the start new head coach Marco Giampolo really wanted, and the passionate Milan fans will want to emerge from the next two games with some encouragement for the season to come.

Next up the Rossoneri faces Manchester United and that won’t be easy. The Red Devils have had an unbeaten pre-season so far, as has Milan’s imminent opponents Benfica. Despite suffering a spate of injury problems and finishing the season strongly former coach Gennaro Gattuso was replaced, and let’s not forget Gattuso is a legend at the San Siro.

Gianluigi Donnarumma prepared to face Benfica in the International Champions Cup — Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma stops a shot on goal against Bayern Munich

So Giampaolo is under no illusions. The former Sampdoria chief simply has to deliver. He has a two year deal but the Milan faithful are hoping for instant results.

With striker Patrick Cutrone seemingly on his way out, the Rossoneri is relying heavily on Krzysztof Piatek to lead the line. And Giampaolo will be pleased to hang on to 20-year-old goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma. The stopper has emerged as Italy’s first choice over the past 12 months and hopes to emulate his long time predecessor Gigi Buffon.

If Milan can get it right at both ends of the pitch then they’ll be a top four contender again this season.

Benfica is bouncing

The big money transfer of Joao Felix to Atletico Madrid has left the Encarnados one fine talent short up front, but Lage has plenty of creative muscle left in the shape of Jota and Raul de Thomas, and striker Haris Seferovic keeps banging the goals in.

Benfica has started its pre-season in super form, with ICC wins against Guadalajara (3-0) and Fiorentina (2-1). Substitute Ciao scored an injury-time winner to beat the Viola, and if the remaining International Champions Cup results go the way of Lage’s team, this prestigious pre-season trophy could well be on its way to Portugal.

That will be a fine start to a new season in which Benfica is expected to dominate its domestic league again, but it will also give the Portuguese champions the confidence they can go deep into the 2019/2020 Champions League.

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Premier League

History

That’s an opportunity the Italians will have to forego for at least another season. Winning its last four Serie A games wasn’t enough to secure the Rossoneri a top four place and that’s something Giampaoli has been tasked with rectifying.

He needs to put together a team which is hard to beat and he as a chance to see how near he is against a strong European side.

Benfica won a 37^th Portuguese Premier League title in May in emphatic style, beating Santa Clara on the final day 4-1 with two goals from Seferovic, one from Rafa Silva and a parting shot from Joao Felix.

The Encarnados have won their domestic title in five out of the last six seasons and have a golden heritage in Europe, having won the European Cup/Champions League on two occasions.

In the previous head to head meetings there has been a victory for each side and a draw, so there’s plenty to play for here, and Milan will be keen to take its more recently successful opponents down a peg or two.

Betting Tip

	AC Milan vs Benfica	2-3 goals @ 1.90
	July 29, 03:06 (GMT+8)

The very latest Milan vs Benfica betting odds say we have a close contest on here with the Portuguese champions slightly the favourites to win at odds of 2.37.

If you think Giampaolo can get the Rossoneri firing then 2.89 for an Italian win is a good price, with the draw available at 3.20.

Both teams have players who can create goals but neither will give much away at the back, so with over 2.75 goals at odds of 1.90, and under 2.75 at 2.00, it looks like two or three goals will be the outcome.