Below-par Reds fall to ruthless Milan

FC Bayern lost Saturday's encounter with AC Milan 4-0. Franck Kessie opened the scoring, and although the German record champions upped the pressure in the blazing heat of Shenzhen, they were unable to stem the bleeding, Patrick Cutrone netting twice before half-time.

After the restart the men from Munich were in control for long spells but failed to find the net. Things got more awkward in the closing stages, when Hakan Calhanoglu added his name to the scoresheet, but as embarrassing as the defeat is, Bayern are in the middle of pre-season preparation, whereas the Rossoneri start their Europa League qualification campaign in just a few days.

Two changes

The Bavarians lined up with Christian Früchtl in goal and Rafinha, Mats Hummels, David Alaba and Juan Bernat in a back four. Corentin Tolisso and Javi Martínez anchored a midfield featuring Thomas Müller in the playmaking role. The native Bavarian wearing the armband was flanked by Kingsley Coman and Franck Ribéry, with Robert Lewandowski as an orthodox centre-forward.

Carlo Ancelotti made two changes to the team that faced Arsenal on Wednesday. Früchtl replaced Tom Starke between the sticks, whereas Kingsley Coman took over from recent arrival James Rodríguez. The Bayern head coach had to play his first card on the half-hour, Marco Friedl coming on for Bernat, who picked up a knock. Renato Sanches and James replaced Hummels and Ribéry at half-time.

First half blues

The crowd in Shenzhen saw a high-octane encounter with half-chances at either end. Milan drew first blood when they charged down the left, sending in a cross following a fine one-two. Alaba scrambled away, but Milan midfielder Franck Kessie made the most of the mix-up, blasting home from 12 yards. Ancelotti's troops went looking for a reply but failed to overcome Milan's dogged defending.

The day turned sour when unmarked striker Patrick Cutrone connected to a free-kick, his brilliant header sailing into the far corner of the net. The Reds upped the ante, Müller, Coman and Lewandowski missing half-chances, Ribéry shining with impressive moves. However, Milan had yet more salt to rub into Bayern's wounds, Cutrone rounding off his brace after a stray pass by Hummels.

Nothing doing against clinical Rossoneri

Proceedings were different after the interval as Bayern's rearguard was much more organised. Chances came at either hand, Lewandowski, Müller and Coman missing opportunities. Their biggest chance came after 70 minutes, when Lewandowski teed up Tolisso, but the new signing hit the side-netting. A goal just refused to come for the Reds, whereas their defenders backed off a charging Hakan Calhanoglu, who crashed the ball past Früchtl into the low corner of the net with ten minutes to go.

The German record champions are back in action on Tuesday, when they cross swords with Chelsea in Singapore. The match kicks off at 13.30 CEST.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen

FC Bayern line-up: Früchtl - Rafinha, Hummels (Sanches 46), Alaba, Bernat (Friedl 30) - Tolisso, Martínez - Coman, Müller, Ribéry (James 46) - Lewandowski

Goals: 0-1 Kessie (14), 0-2 Cutrone (25), 0-3 Cutrone (43), 0-4 Calhanoglu (85)