Guinness Cup 2013: Predictions for Remaining Round 1 Matches in ICC Tournament

This year marks the inaugural edition of an intriguing new tournament known as the Guinness International Champions Cup. The tourney features eight top teams from across the world, and the goal is to crown one international champion by the end of it.

AC Milan and Valencia got things off to a rousing start on Saturday with Milan coming out on top by a 2-1 score. There are three additional first-round matches that have yet to be played, though, and soccer fans are hopeful that they live up to the opening encounter. Based on the quality of teams that will be involved in the tournament, that shouldn't be an issue.

Here is a complete breakdown of every remaining first-round match as well as predictions for each as the International Champions Cup carries on stateside.

Juventus vs. Everton

After a strong, sixth-place finish in the EPL last season, Everton will have a golden opportunity to test its progress against defending Italian champion Juventus. It remains to be seen how many stars will actually be utilized in this match, but things look fairly close on paper. If goalkeeper Tim Howard starts for the Toffees, Everton will have a fighting chance as he is among the best keepers in the world. Juventus has a good one in its own right in the form of Gianluigi Buffon, though, so this could be a low-scoring affair.

There is also a great deal of uncertainty with the Everton roster as a whole right now as midfielder Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines are possible transfer targets. It seems like new manager Roberto Martinez aspires to keep both of them in the fold, though, so look for the Toffees to utilize them. Juventus, on the other hand, is trying to integrate some of its new additions, including star striker Carlos Tevez, who should make a major impact.

If Tevez is able to connect with the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio, then the Juventus attack will be extremely dangerous in this one. Since both teams are still trying to fine tune themselves ahead of their respective club seasons, a shootout shouldn't be expected. Look for this one to be on the low-scoring side with Juventus coming out on top by a 2-1 score.

Chelsea vs. Inter Milan

As one of the elite teams in the EPL, plenty of eyes are constantly on Chelsea. That will certainly be the case when the Blues make the trip to the United States to face Inter Milan of Serie A. There is no doubt that Chelsea has the advantage in terms of star power, but Inter demonstrates excellent team play. The Blues have looked extremely good thus far during the preseason, and it's hard to imagine them slipping up in the ICC's opening round.

Chelsea is still looking to add through the transfer window in an effort to catch up to the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City, but its squad is already quite impressive as it offers a great mix of youngsters and veterans. Chelsea's midfield is particularly impressive as it features the likes of Frank Lampard, Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and newcomer Marco van Ginkel. Perhaps the only missing element is a consistent striker up top as Fernando Torres and Demba Ba can't always be counted upon.

Aside from striker Rodrigo Palacio, who scored 22 goals for Inter last season, the Italian side depends on goal scoring by committee. That means Fredy Guarin, Diego Milito and a host of others will be worth watching. It wouldn't be fair to count Inter out, but Chelsea has so much fire power that a 3-1 decision in favor of the Blues seems probable.

Real Madrid vs. Los Angeles Galaxy

In what is arguably the most intriguing matchup of the first round, Real Madrid will take on the Los Angeles Galaxy. Los Blancos are one of the most talented and recognizable clubs in the world, while the Galaxy are the best team in a league that isn't respected worldwide. Even so, L.A. has some talent in the form of American star Landon Donovan and a handful of other players. Unless Donovan plays out of his mind, though, the Galaxy has a very difficult challenge on their hands.

It isn't often that American club teams are given the opportunity to test their skills against the world's top teams, but that will be the case in this match. Due to the talent disparity, it wouldn't be surprising to see Madrid use mostly reserve players. For the sake of the fans in attendance, though, it would be nice for Los Blancos to utilize the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Mesut Ozil for at least a portion of the match. Even if Madrid looks to the bench for the bulk of its starters, though, it should have a field day in this one.

The only things that can keep Los Angeles in this match are a will to win and flawless structural play. Few teams in the world break down opposing defenses better than Real Madrid, so the Galaxy will be faced with a nearly-impossible test. With that said, remaining competitive against Real Madrid could be huge for the MLS regardless of the players that Los Blancos decide to use. The future of this tournament relies on entertaining and meaningful matches, so the Galaxy need to prove their worth. Despite L.A.'s desire to win, look for a 4-0 Madrid victory.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter