bundesliga

Leon Goretzka pounces as Bayern Munich brush AC Milan aside

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Leon Goretzka scored the only goal of the game as a dominant Bayern Munich side eased to a 1-0 victory over AC Milan in Kansas City on Tuesday as the club signed off from their US summer tour in style.

Bayern Munich 1-0 AC Milan
Goals: 1-0 Goretzka (45+3')

Bayern began with virtually a full strength starting line-up, although Thiago was rested on the bench and Robert Lewandowski withdrew as a precaution due to muscular complaints. Niko Kovac's men barely felt their absences, however, as they fashioned a number of good openings early on, with Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller and Alphonso Davies particularly lively. Milan only rarely threatened the Bundesliga champions' backline and invariably did so through Theo Hernandez - brother of Bayern summer signing Lucas. The match was still goalless as the interval approached, but Goretzka scored the decisive - and deserved - opener from Joshua Kimmich's defence-splitting pass on the stroke of half-time.

The sold-out, 18,469-capacity crowd at the Children's Mercy Stadium in Kansas City witnessed more of the same in the second half as Bayern refused to relinquish their grip on the game. The only scare from Kovac's perspective was when Niklas Süle uncharacteristically played a loose pass straight to the feet of Patrick Cutrone, but the Milan attacker was foiled by a brilliant save from Sven Ulreich. At the other end of the pitch both Fiete Arp and David Alaba had goals ruled out as Bayern looked to make the scoreline reflect their superiority, but it ultimately mattered little and the men from Munich comfortably saw the result over the line to end this year's USA visit on a high note.

Renato Sanches (r.) impressed for Bayern up against former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu. - AFP/Getty Images

Match stats

  • Lewandowski hit 40 goals in 47 appearances for Bayern last season.
  • Davies faced Italian opposition for the second time in his senior career. The Canadian played against Juventus in the 2018 MLS All-Star game.
  • Kingsley Coman is the only Bayern squad member to have played for an Italian club at senior level. The Frenchman produced three assists in 20 appearances in all competitions for Juventus during 2014/15, before moving to Bayern at the end of the campaign.
  • Bayern lost 4-0 to Milan in last summer's ICC, but won their previous fixture 3-0 in summer 2015. Lewandowski is the only goalscorer on that day still at the club.
  • Calhanoglu registered 28 goals and 22 assists in 111 Bundesliga appearances for Hamburg and Leverkusen. The Turkey midfielder scored three goals in his seven league meetings with Bayern (W1, D1, L5).
  • Milan new boy Piatek scored 22 goals in 37 Serie A appearances for Genoa last season. Only Fabio Quagliarella (26) and Duvan Zapata (23) scored more.

Line-ups

Bayern: Neuer (Ulreich 46') - Kimmich (Mihaljevic 46'), Pavard, Süle, Davies - Sanches (Singh 59'), Tolisso (Thiago 46') - Coman (Alaba 59'), Müller (Stiller 80'), Goretzka - Arp
Unused subs: Hoffmann, Zaiser, Poznanski, Kehl, Johansson
Out: Boateng (personal), Hernandez (did not travel; rehabilitation), Lewandowski (muscular)
Coach: Niko Kovac

Milan: G. Donnarumma - Calabria, Gabbia, Strinic, Hernandez (Conti 45') - Borini (Brescianini 90'), Biglia, Calhanoglu - Maldini (Cutrone 59') - Castillejo (Mionic 90'), Piatek
Unused subs: A. Donnarumma, Plizzari, Conti, Capanni, Capone, Cutrone
Out: Caldara (knee), Strinic (ankle)
Coach: Marco Giampaolo

Benjamin Pavard (l.) played the full 90 minutes for Bayern in an impressive display in Kansas. - 2019 Getty Images

AS IT HAPPENED!

FULL TIME!

It's all over and Bayern deservedly take the win after controlling the match from start to finish. They head home to Munich with two wins and one defeat from their three International Champions Cup fixtures.

89' DISALLOWED GOAL FOR ALABA

An utterly outrageous no-look pass from Thiago, floated over the top of the Milan defence into the run of Alaba, who controls it and then lashes into the net. It's rightly ruled out for offside though, which is a shame again as Thiago's skill deserved a goal

86' CHANCE FOR SINGH

Pavard's cross into the Milan box isn't properly dealt with as both Davies and Arp get touches on the ball, which eventually falls to the unmarked Singh at the back post. He tries to take a first-time shot, but rushes it a bit and ends up slicing it high in the air and it's an easy catch for Donnarumma.

82' ARP GOAL DISALLOWED

Arp looks to have put Bayern 2-0 up after getting on the end of a cross, but the referee rules it out for handball.

79' LOVELY FOOTWORK FROM SINGH

The New Zealander shows quick feet in the middle of the pitch to jink away from his marker before bursting forward. He gets to the edge of the box and slides in Goretzka, but the Germany international gets his feet in a mix and is eventually crowded off the ball.

Shortly afterwards, Müller is replaced by Stiller.

76' LONG-RANGE EFFORT FROM CALHANOGLU

The former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder unleashes a dipping 25-yard drive, but Ulreich gets behind it and makes the save. The rebound falls back into the middle of penalty area, but a Bayern defender is well placed to clear the danger.

71' CLOSE FROM MÜLLER

An inviting cross from the left from Davies finds Müller, but he's unable to keep his header down and it loops over the bar.

69' STUNNING SKILL FROM THIAGO

Thiago, deep in his own half and facing his own goal, manages to launch an attack from nothing. Anticipating that he will be closed down quickly, he drops a shoulder spins past his marker as he receives the ball. Suddenly he's wide open in the middle of the pitch and sprays a pass out to the right to Müller. The Bayern No.25 tries to cross to Arp, but it's cut out, which is a shame as Thiago's turn alone warranted a goal.

64' BIG SAVE FROM ULREICH

An uncharacteristic slip-up from Süle gifts substitute Cutrone the ball, but he never quite gets it out of his feet and doesn't look confident. Still, he gets a shot away when one-on-one with Ulreich, but the Bayern keeper comes out on top. That should have been 1-1

59' CUTRONE ON FOR MALDINI, ALABA AND SINGH COME ON 

Both teams make substitutions as Cutrone comes on in attacking midfield for AC Milan, while David Alaba and Sarpreet Singh take the places of Coman and Sanches. Alaba's arrival will mean Davies pushes up from left-back to the left wing.

56' MILAN PLAYING THEMSELVES INTO TROUBLE

The Italians are trying to play the ball out from the back, which is just asking for trouble really. Bayern pour forward in the press and are forcing them into mistakes. Surely an opening will come at some point.

51' AS YOU WERE

The match has resumed the same pattern as the first half: Bayern controlling possession and Milan sitting back and allowing them to come forward. There have been a few niggly fouls from the Italian as their frustration begins to show, interrupting the flow of the game somewhat.

47' THREE CHANGES FOR BAYERN

Niko Kovac made three substitutions at the interval: Mihaljevic is now on for Kimmich, Ulreich for Neuer, and Thiago for Tolisso.

SECOND HALF

And we're underway again!

HALF-TIME!

That goal was the least Bayern deserved for an absolutely dominant first-half performance, even if they weren't able to create an overload of clear-cut chances.

Milan only threatened sporadically and invariably did so through Hernandez, who has since been taken off injured.

45+3' GOAL! GORETZKA FIRES BAYERN IN FRONT!

An assist for Kimmich? Surprise, surprise! The Bayern right-back has the ball about 10 yards outside the Milan area and spies a run from Germany teammate Goretzka. He slides an exquisite low ball through to him - taking two defenders out of the equation - and Goretzka finishes superbly past Donnarumma.

45+1' DAVIES GETS BEHIND AGAIN

Once more Coman finds another good run from Davies down the left, and he gets behind Calhanoglu en route to the byline. He's looking for Arp in the middle, but can't quite pick him out and wins a corner instead.

45' HERNANDEZ TAKEN OFF

Hernandez's game is over following that challenge as he winces in pain as he clutches his ankle. He's stretchered off and replaced by Andrea Conti.

42' GOOD AGAIN FROM HERNANDEZ

Brilliant pace again from Hernandez as he sprints past three or four players before being closed down by Pavard just outside the Bayern box. The left-back still manages to pass to a teammate, whose shot is blazed well over the bar.

37' CHEEKY FREE-KICK FROM GORETZKA

Sanches is fouled about 10 yards out the Milan penalty area and Goretzka's execution from the ensuing free-kick is brilliantly disguised. He shapes to shoot but instead dinks a ball over the wall to Müller. The ball won't come down for him quickly enough, though, and Milan are able to crowd him out and clear the danger.

35' GREAT RUN FROM DAVIES

Unbelievable pace from Davies to keep up with Coman down the left and run into space. Coman plays him in, but Davies' cross from the byline is a touch loose and Milan clear at the near post.

33' JUST WIDE FROM SANCHES

Sanches gets the ball from Arp, about 25 yards out. The Milan defence stands off him and Sanches needs no second invitation to shoot. He makes a clean connection but his low shot whistles just wide of Donnarumma's near post.

31' DANGEROUS FROM MILAN 

A great pass from Calhanoglu releases Calabria into the box down the right. He's completely unmarked as he gets to the byline and sends an inviting ball across the six-yard box. It just needs a touch to go in, but none of his teammates have gambled on such a cross, and Bayern breathe a sigh of relief. They were undone rather too easily there.

28' PIATEK MAKES A NUISANCE OF HIMSELF

Bayern struggle to clear the ball on the edge of their own area and Piatek nips in between Davies and Pavard. He's under pressure but still manages to get a shot off - no danger for Neuer though, as it's deflected out for a corner.

25' WHAT A CROSS FROM KIMMICH!

Kimmich bends a devious first-time cross from the right along the edge of the six-yard box that just misses Arp by a matter of inches at the near post. Coman can't reach it at the back post either and Milan clear.

23' POSITIVE FROM HERNANDEZ

Theo Hernandez, brother of new Bayern signing Lucas, has been Milan's best player so far. He charges forward and tees up Piatek for a shot, but he doesn't catch the ball right and it doesn't threaten Neuer's goal.

Hernandez keep plugging away though, and recycles possession to Maldini, son of Milan and Italy legend Paolo, but the teenager leans back as he takes his shot and it sails over.

19' LEWANDOWSKI UPDATE

Bayern have now confirmed that Lewandowski was withdrawn from the starting line-up as a precaution due to "minor muscular problems".

16' FIRST GLIMPSE FROM DAVIES

It's all Bayern at the moment, with Milan barely able to touch the ball. Coman darts forward on the left and finds Davies, who twists and turns inside the penalty area to wriggle past his marker. His cross is cut out at the near post, but the teenager will gain confidence from that.

12' PROMISING FROM BAYERN

Davies slips in a nice pass to Coman on the left and his low cross to the front post is looking for Arp, but a covering defender just nips in front of him to clear for a corner. Nicely worked from Bayern, there.

8' MÜLLER TESTS DONNARUMMA

A lovely, deft cross into the middle from the right by Kimmich, perfectly timed into the run of Müller, who's arriving around the penalty spot. He gets a good header on the ball, but it's straight at Donnarumma, who makes a straightforward save.

5' ARP INSTEAD OF LEWANDOWSKI

Robert Lewandowski was initially named in Bayern's starting line-up and took part in the pre-match warm-up, but Arp has started in his place here. There's been no official word as yet from Bayern as to the reason for the change, but we'll keep you updated.

3' BRIGHT START FROM KIMMICH

The Bayern right-back, perhaps eager to make amends for his mistake that led to a goal against Real Madrid, has been lively so far and gets to the byline on the right-hand side. He fizzes a ball across the six-yard box, but Donnarumma dives low to collect it.

1' KICK-OFF!

Here we go! Milan are playing in their tradition red and black stripes, while Bayern are sporting the snazzy all-black kits they will wear in the Champions League.

WARM-UPS COMPLETE

Both sets of players have worked up a sweat out on the pitch and have returned to the changing rooms for their final preparations. We'll be underway shortly.

BAYERN TEAM NEWS

It's largely a full-strength team from Niko Kovac. Spanish midfielder Thiago is given a rest, with Renato Sanches given a chance to shine in the centre of the field.

Alphonso Davies looks set to start at left-back instead of David Alaba, who begins on the bench, while Leon Goretzka comes in for Serge Gnabry.

FRIENDS REUNITED

Milan goalkeeper Pepe Reina spent one season at Bayern as Manuel Neuer's understudy in 2014/15, making three Bundesliga appearances in the process. He departed with a league title in his pocket.

BOGEY TEAM FOR RODRIGUEZ AND CALHANOGLU

Milan defender Ricardo Rodriguez knows all about Bayern, having played against the Bavarians 16 times during his spell at Wolfsburg. However, his memories will not be fond ones, having won just two and lost 14 times.

Rodriguez was also on the pitch during Lewandowski's record-breaking five-goal haul in nine minutes as Bayern came from behind to beat Wolfsburg 5-1 in September 2015.

Former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder has only fared marginally better against Bayern, winning one, drawing one and losing six of his meetings with the record Bundesliga champions. He has managed to score past them three times, though.

HEAD TO HEAD

This will be the 12th meeting between the teams. The last five have all been pre-season encounters, either in the International Champions Cup or the Audi Cup in Munich. The Italians have triumphed on the two most recent occasions, with Bayern triumphant in the previous three.

The last competitive fixture between the clubs dates back to April 2007, when the Italians won 4-2 on aggregate over two legs in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Overall, Bayern have won three and drawn two of the 11 games against AC Milan to date, losing six. They will therefore be keen to start rectifying that record today.

HELLO AND WELCOME!

Having faced off against Premier League and La Liga opposition so far in the US, today Bayern tussle with a Serie A side. Can they end their Stateside tour on a high note? We will find out very shortly!