Real Madrid vs. AC Milan: 3 Things Los Blancos Should Test in Friendly Game

In their final match of the calendar year, Real Madrid travel to the Sevens Stadium in Dubai to take on AC Milan of Serie A in a friendly on Tuesday.

The match, which may seem unnecessary to many, is primarily an opportunity for both clubs to heighten their presence in a new commercial market, given that both Real Madrid and AC Milan are sponsored by Emirates.

According to Jose Felix Diaz of Marca, it will be Real's "fourth piece of business in the Gulf Region this year," following a friendly against Paris Saint-Germain in Qatar and "the deals struck with the Abu Dhabi National Bank and the International Petroleum Investment Company (owned by the Abu Dhabi government) for sponsorship and stadium naming rights respectively."

However, the match also represents an opportunity for Carlo Ancelotti to experiment, as Los Blancos take a break from their barnstorming run of 22 straight competitive victories in all competitions.

Across the following slides, we examine three things the manager could test in Tuesday's friendly.

Sami Khedira at the Base of the Midfield

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There are plenty of reasons why Real Madrid should look to sell Sami Khedira in the January transfer window, many of which can be found here.

But the most important one in all of them is that the German doesn't fit the essence of Carlo Ancelotti's side; his style stands in contrast to the way the Italian has crafted this team to play.

That, however, doesn't appear to be deterring Khedira from seeking a new contract at the Bernabeu (his current deal expires next summer), telling German newspaper Stuttgarter Nachrichten, per the Daily Mail, that he is hopeful of staying in Madrid.

"If we can reach a solution, I'll be very happy," the World Cup winner said. "I'm confident that soon I will get more of a chance to play. There are other players in my position but that competition is healthy."

And given that Ancelotti has also indicated his desire to retain Khedira, it seems possible he might prolong his stay in the Spanish capital, even though he'd be better off taking his career elsewhere.

But if the two parties are intent on reaching a new agreement, it makes sense to afford the 27-year-old a chance to impress at the base of the midfield and see if he's capable of adapting his powerful game to Real Madrid's fluid style.

Raphael Varane Alongside Nacho in the Centre of the Defence

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Raphael Varane is 21. Nacho is 24. Both men are contracted to Real Madrid until 2020. 

As such, the players represent the club's long-term future in defence, with both men already highly capable centre-backs at this early stage in their careers despite a paucity of playing time at the Bernabeu.

Tuesday's friendly with AC Milan is also a perfect opportunity to rest the likes of Sergio Ramos and Pepe, both of whom have played leading roles in Real Madrid's storming run to 22 consecutive victories. 

For a glimpse into the future, Carlo Ancelotti could replace both veterans with their understudies to not only afford Varane and Nacho some playing time but to help the pair develop a relationship at the back that could possibly underpin the club's defence for the next decade.

Jese to Lead the Attack with Cristiano Ronaldo or Karim Benzema

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According to Inside Spanish Football, Real Madrid are negotiating a six-month loan deal with Espanyol for Jese, as the capital club looks to find regular minutes for the returning youngster. 

Should the deal eventuate, it will be an important step for the 21-year-old, who's shown signs he could be a bona fide star during his time at the Bernabeu but still needs playing time to fine tune his craft. 

But Real Madrid will be reluctant to send Jese out on loan underdone, given that another club without a long-term interest in the player mightn't look to be careful with the Spaniard's minutes and simply aim to get their most out of their short-term investment. 

It's important, therefore, for Real Madrid to give Jese some playing time (even if he is to be sent out on loan) to prepare his body for the second half of the season. 

After making just three substitute appearances since his return from a serious knee injury, Tuesday's match in Dubai is a great opportunity to get the better part of 90 minutes into his legs alongside Cristiano Ronaldo or Karim Benzema.