International Champions Cup: Real Madrid take on a new-look Inter Milan
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Having strengthened significantly in the summer, Inter Milan face Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup, though Rafa Benitez’s Real Madrid will present a stern challenge, having ruthlessly swept aside Manchester City, 4-1 last time out.
Los Blancos are odds-on at 4/7 for victory and there are odds of 20/1 on another 4-1 scoreline. Despite the side’s attacking prowess, they can leave themselves exposed at the back and on more than one occasion, City caused them problems in the area, with Yaya Toure making powerful runs and drawing fouls.
Karim Benzema, who has been linked with a move away from the club this summer, opened the scoring with a magnificent goal, backtracking in the area to connect to cross with a sensational reverse volley. With reports of him moving growing stronger, Benitez quickly responded after the match.
“People are asking me about different players that maybe we will buy and I always say the same thing, ‘he’s not our player, I will not talk about that’,” said Benitez.
“In this case, [Karim] is our player so I will not talk about that. I hope, I’m sure, that he will stay with us.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe and young Russian attacker Denis Cheryshev, who has also been linked away from the club with Liverpool interested, also got on the scoresheet, and Benitez was happy with the performance of his attacking stars, with Gareth Bale and Isco also playing a starring role.
“The main thing is the team, the main thing is to see all the team playing well,” he said.
“Obviously Cristiano, Gareth [Bale], [Karim] Benzema and Isco, all these players, if they play and find each other then the team will play much better and today that was the case.”
For Inter, they will be hoping to bounce back from a narrow 1-0 loss to fierce rivals AC Milan in the competition last time out, with new signings Geoffrey Kondogbia and Xherdan Shaqiri looking to make an impact.
