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Goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Andre Schuerlle lifted Chelsea to a 2-0 victory over AC Milan on Sunday and set up a match for manager Jose Mourinho against former club Real Madrid. |
Mourinho, who left Real Madrid two months ago to return to the London club, and Chelsea will face off against 32-time Spanish champions Real Madrid tomorrow in Miami’s Sun Life Stadium for the inaugural title in the International Champions Cup, an eight-team friendly tournament.
“For us, it’s very good,” said Mourinho of facing Madrid. “We play against a very special team with very special players in the competition that we are not that obsessed to win. … It’s (going to be) a very good experience and I look forward for it.”
Chelsea are the only side who haven’t allowed a goal in their first two matches, while Real, who beat Everton 2-1 in Los Angeles on Saturday, have a tournament-high five goals.
“It was difficult. They are a team with great experience,” said Mourinho of the match against Milan. “It was not easy. They know how to play. They have been with (head coach Massimiliano) Allegri for three years now, so tactically they are very mature and they know how to defend.
On Sunday, Branislav Ivanovic gave Chelsea the initiative in the fourth minute, finding space on the left side near the byline only to have his effort blocked at the right post by Milan keeper Christian Abbiati.
Ivanvonic put a header wide in the 12th before Milan had its first chance, a blast by Kevin-Prince Boateng that went high and wide. De Bruyne had a goal disallowed 22nd for offside, but Chelsea got on the score sheet in the 29th minute when Eden Hazard found space on the left, dribbled toward the middle and passed to an unmarked Debruyne. The 22-year-old Belgian international, who transferred from Genk in 2012 but spent last season on loan at Werder Bremen, angled a shot across the goal line.
It wasn’t until the second minute of injury time that Chelsea added another goal, when Victor Moses broke free on the left and sent a ball across the area to Schuerrle.
The 22-year-old German international, who joined Chelsea on a reported 21 million euro transfer from Leverkusen in June, volleyed the ball low inside the right post.
Jonathan Vanega scored a goal in each half and Ever Banega and Jonas also scored for Spain’s Valencia in a 4-0 victory over Inter Milan.