Real Madrid vs. Milan: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
The two most successful teams in European Cup history will go head-to-head on Tuesday, as Real Madrid and AC Milan will face off in Dubai in a club friendly.
Both teams have a combined 17 major European titles under their belts, with Los Blancos going into this match as the current UEFA Champions League holders and Club World Cup champions.
The Rossoneri haven't been nearly as successful in recent years but are building toward a bright future, and a friendly against the planet's most in-form squad will be a fantastic learning experience for Filippo Inzaghi's men.
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Date: Tuesday, December 30
Time: 4 p.m. GMT/11 a.m. ET
Venue: The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
TV info and live stream: The match will be broadcast on BeIN Sports (for U.S. viewers), with mobile coverage available via BeIN Sports Connect.
Preview
The match will officially be billed as the final of the 2014 Dubai Challenge Cup, although this year's edition of the "tournament" is little more than a single friendly, with the winner receiving bragging rights.
Real and Milan are two of the absolute heavyweights of European football, but the two clubs have walked very different paths on their way to this friendly. While Los Blancos are nursing an incredible win streak and lead the La Liga table, Milan didn't even qualify for European football this season.
The Rossoneri currently sit seventh in Serie A, a far cry from the glory days of the previous decade. They still have a massive global following, however, and as shared by AS English, the match will be played in front of a packed house:
Manager Filippo Inzaghi told reporters there were as many as 100,000 ticket requests, confirming how special this occasion will be, via AS:
"Filippo Inzaghi, coach of AC Milan acknowledged that Tuesday’s forthcoming Dubai Cup friendly is "not just another game, but very special" as both clubs have won so many major honours over the years. "We’re very happy to be here, and knowing that have been over 100,000 solicitations for tickets for this sold-out match. There is an appetite to watch both teams and we hope that it’s a great occasion."
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While Tuesday's meeting will be little more than a friendly, Inzaghi plans on starting his strongest possible XI, according to Gulf News Sport:
That team could already include Alessio Cerci, who is expected to complete a move to Milan in exchange for Fernando Torres, who is set to rejoin Atletico Madrid, the club that launched his career.
Cerci has already travelled to Dubai and could feature against Madrid, although it would be in an unofficial capacity, via AC Milan News:
"Cerci is expected to arrive in Dubai tomorrow. He could get his unofficial Milan debut against Real Madrid on Tuesday. #BenvenutoCerci
— AC Milan News (@Milanello) December 27, 2014"
Real Madrid will go into this match nursing a 22-match win streak, just four matches short of Ajax's record of 26 in official competitions, via Marca's Juan Antonio Jimenez. Tuesday's match won't count toward that streak, with the Dubai Challenge Cup not being organised by an officially sanctioned federation.
Carlo Ancelotti is expected to field a competitive starting XI but will likely rest one or two key starters, as Los Blancos face a heavy schedule in the second half of the season.
One player who is likely to get a chance to impress is Sami Khedira, who is believed to be keen on convincing coach Carlo Ancelotti to keep him around, per beIN Sports:
A friendly against Milan could be the perfect way to make an impression just before the transfer window opens, giving Ancelotti one last look at the German and other fringe contributors before deciding on their futures.
Fans in Dubai shouldn't expect too much craziness on Tuesday—these clubs will try to give them a competitive match, but league and cup matches are the priority this time of year. Avoiding injuries will be the main concern for either side, and the level of the match will likely reflect that.
Final Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Milan
