Allegri's Milan starts with a friendly defeat, Arsenal wins 1-0

Massimiliano Allegri's AC Milan's first real friendly of the summer ended in a 1-0 defeat , following their 3-0 home-run victory against Massimo Oddo's Milan Futuro last Saturday at Milanello. In Singapore, the team's debut on the Asian and Australian tour, the level is decidedly higher. They face Arsenal, Champions League semi-finalists and second in the Premier League behind only Liverpool.

The Gunners, well-tested under Arteta (one of the world's best coaches), defeated the Rossoneri with a second-half goal from Saka, following a cross from Kiwior, formerly of Spezia . The second half was dominated by the English side after a more balanced first half. The final shot-on-target scoreline was telling: 23-3 for Arsenal (corners: 14-2 for the Londoners). AC Milan could only take consolation from the final penalty shootout, which was taken purely for show, encouraged by the local organizers of the Singapore Festival of Football, which will continue with another Arsenal friendly against Newcastle. The spot kicks confirmed the prowess of Torriani, who came on in the second half for Terracciano, making his debut in goal for the Rossoneri.

Without Maignan (still struggling to reach peak condition), with Jimenez and Fofana sidelined, and Gimenez and Modric still on holiday, Allegri opted for a 3-5-1-1 with Pulisic and Leao up front: the Portuguese has shown encouraging signs . Ricci, acquired from Torino, was deployed as a deep-lying playmaker. It's worth noting that the Singapore stadium was half-empty, despite the presence of two European giants. Milan will return to action on Saturday in Hong Kong against Liverpool.