AC Milan produced a stunning second-half turnaround to beat Manchester United 4-2 in Wroclaw, with Samuel Chukwueze the architect of an comeback that handed Ruben Amorim his first pre-season win against his old side.
United had led twice and were denied by Lorenzo Torriani’s penalty save in the first half, only to be swept aside by four goals in the second period.
Harry Maguire set the tone inside two minutes, rising unmarked to head Bruno Fernandes’ left-side corner powerfully past Torriani and give United the lead.
Milan pegged them back before half-time. Chukwueze, persistent and creative throughout the first half, drove repeatedly at United’s backline and caused chaos.
His equaliser in the 37th minute was a reward for sustained pressure, and it arrived at a moment when United had a golden opportunity to restore their lead.
Fernandes stepped up to take a penalty in the 41st minute after a Milan handball and Torriani produced an outstanding save, diving to his right to keep the scores level.
Patrick Dorgu restored United’s advantage six minutes into the second half.
The Dane capitalised on a moment of hesitation in Milan’s defence, receiving the ball in space and finishing well.
Second-half flurry from Milan
What followed in the second half was a relentless 20-minute spell from Amorim’s side that United could not stem.
Cisse levelled in the 57th minute, arriving late into the box to convert after a flowing move in which Chukwueze again provided the penetration on the right.
The equaliser was swiftly followed by the lead: Goncalo Ramos drove a finish past the United goalkeeper in the 68th minute for his first goal of the summer.
Three minutes later the game was beyond all doubt when Ruben Loftus-Cheek arrived from deep and swept a composed effort into the corner to make it 4-2.
United threw bodies forward in the closing stages but found no way back.
The absence of Tom Heaton, Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, Benjamin Sesko and Kobbie Mainoo, all missing through injury, stretched Carrick’s options considerably.
Milan team vs Man United
Amorim made four changes from Milan’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in Jakarta seven days earlier, bringing in Ardon Jashari, Yunus Musah, Alpha Cisse and Goncalo Ramos.
Luka Modric, Christian Comotto, Rafael Leao and Francesco Camarda made way, with goalkeeper Mike Maignan yet to resume training.
Winger Christopher Nkunku did not feature after being told he can leave Stadio San Siro.
AC Milan starting XI: Lorenzo Torriani, Filippo Terracciano, Koni De Winter, Strahinja Pavlovic, Samuel Chukwueze, Ardon Jashari, Yunus Musah, Pervis Estupinan, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Alpha Cisse, Goncalo Ramos
Milan substitutes: Samuele Ricci, Sankhoun Diawara, Luka Modric, Christian Comotto, Davide Bartesaghi, Valeri Vladimirov, Matteo Pittarella, Alexis Saelemaekers, Francesco Camarda, Mario Gila, Leo-Paul Bouyer
Manchester United team vs AC Milan
United made six changes from their 1-1 draw with Leeds United three days earlier, when they won 5-4 on penalties in Dublin.
Noussair Mazraoui, Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Youri Tielemans and Luke Shaw came in.
Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, Harry Amass, Tyler Fletcher, Joshua Zirkzee and Bryan Mbeumo moved to the bench.
Manchester United starting XI: Senne Lammens, Noussair Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Patrick Dorgu, Amad Diallo, Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, Luke Shaw, Ayden Heaven
Man United substitutes: Fred Heath, Ben Mee, Harry Amass, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Toby Collyer, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, Kobbie Mainoo, JJ Gabriel, Shea Lacey, Bryan Mbeumo, Marcus Rashford, Joshua Zirkzee
Milan vs Manchester United stats
- Milan had been winless in their three preceding pre-season matches, drawing 2-2 at Celtic and 1-1 against Inter in Perth before that defeat to Chelsea
- They faced English clubs four times in pre-season 2025/26, starting with a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal but winning a penalty shootout against the Gunners in Kallang
- That result was followed by a 4-2 defeat to Liverpool in Kowloon, 1-1 draw with Leeds United in Dublin and 4-1 loss at Chelsea followed
- In their last competitive meeting with an English club, Milan lost 3-1 at home to Liverpool on Matchday 1 of the 2024/25 Champions League
- Against English teams, Milan’s competitive record is W13 D14 L20, with one of those losses coming in their most recent meeting against United in the Europa League last 16 at Stadio San Siro in March 2021
- Paul Pogba scored the only goal of the game on that occasion, sending United through 2-1 on aggregate as part of a campaign that would end with defeat on penalties to Villarreal in the final
- That meant United have six wins to Milan’s five in the 12 competitive editions of this contest, remaining unbeaten in four since a 3-0 away defeat in the Champions League semi-finals in May 2007
- United had been 3-2 up from the first leg of that tie and Milan went on to beat another English club in the final, defeating Liverpool 2-1
- Outside of Milan, the Rossoneri’s competitive record against United is L4 D1 W1, last winning such a game with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in the Champions League last 16 in February 2005
- Hernan Crespo scored the only goal in that game and the second leg, with Milan then beating Inter and PSV before spurning a 3-0 half-time lead to lose on penalties to Liverpool in the final
