While we enjoy our long sunny summer days, summer vacation is rapidly drawing to a close for our Scudetto winning squad. Below are the preseason games and events on the calendar for our boys. As you can see, they will be busy! But with any luck, they’ll bring home a little more bling from all of their travels. (For news straight from the source, go to AC Milan’s official website.)
Preseason Training Begins Tuesday July 12th at Milanello
There are 4 players who are playing in the Copa America and will not be reporting to training yet: Yepes, Pato, Robinho, and Thiago Silva. Additionally, Ibrahimovic and Cassano represented their national teams in June and have been given an extra week before they report. But for everyone else, it’s back to work next Tuesday! Milan will play a friendly nearby a few days into training.
Audi Cup Tournament
July 26-27th at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany
This preseason tournament features several teams who are sponsored by Audi and is a 2-day tournament. This year features AC Milan, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich. and Internacional Porto Alegre. AC Milan faces Bayern Munich on Tuesday, and the winner from that match will face the winner of the Barcelona-Porto Alegre match on Wednesday to play for the trophy. There will also be a 3rd place game before that on Wednesday for the losers of the Tuesday matches.
Additionally, the team will be visiting jersey sponsors Adidas on Thursday the 28th.
TIM Super Coppa
Saturday, August 6th at the Birds Nest in Beijing, China
This year’s matchup features Scudetto winners AC Milan vs. Coppa Italia winners Inter Milan for a sizzling “extra” derby. Both teams are tied for most Super Coppa wins, at 5 trophies each, so whomever wins this year’s trophy will also get Super Coppa bragging rights.
Friendly Match vs. Malmö FF
Sunday, August 14th, Swedbank Stadion, Malmö, Sweden
Sunday, August 14th will find our jet-setters in Malmö, Sweden, where AC Milan are playing a friendly against Ibrahimovic’s old club. A very cool thing for Ibra to do for his home team.
Trofeo TIM Tournament
Thursday, August 18th, Stadio San Nicola, Bari
This preseason tournament is played every year just before the season begins and features 3 teams: Juventus, AC Milan, and Inter Milan. It is not an officially sanctioned tournament, as the rules are different. There are 3 Round Robin 45 min matches. Any draws at the end of 45 minutes are resolved through a penalty shootout. The games may be miniature, but the trophy is full-sized, and I’m sure we could find some room for it in our trophy cases.
Luigi Berlusconi Trophy Match
Sunday, August 21st, Stadio San Siro, Milan
This match is held every year, usually between Juventus and AC Milan, as it will be again this year. Last year, Juventus won and broke AC Milan’s winning streak after 5 consecutive years, so I expect to see Ambrosini lifting it again this year. The trophy is named after Silvio Berlusconi’s father and the tradition was started as a tribute to him.
And the most important date of all is the opening weekend of Serie A: August 28th-29th!!
Mark your calendars and start your countdown!
(May I suggest a paper chain made of red and black paper?)
So… anyone lucky enough to be going to any of the matches or catch a training session?
This post was compiled while listening to the music of Ludo