10 Aug Soccer Insights August Volume 1

As the International Champions Cup approaches its final match, this marks the near end for one of the most exciting summers of soccer. The ICC consisted of seventeen different teams playing in sixteen venues across the country. We will take an in-depth look at all the matches that took place in the combined European and US bracket, the importance of the tournament, attendance records and social media highlights throughout the tournament.

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•  The European and US combined side of the ICC tournament kicked off with a matchup between the defending Premier League champions and Celtic FC.
• The match took place in Glasgow, Scotland, but the home field advantage did not seem to give Celtic the extra edge they needed
• Riyad Mahraz and Eoghan O’Connell were the lone goal scorers for each side
• Leicester City came out on top after the penalty shootout, winning 6-5.

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•  The first game on of the US portion of the tournament took place in Eugene, Oregon, and featured PSG and Inter Milan
• Serge Aurier was the star of the match, scoring two goals before the final whistle
• Layvin Kurzawa sent spectacular free kick over the wall and into the back of the net in the 61st minute
• Almost every player on both PSGs and Inter Milans squad saw the pitch in this high energy match

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• PSG stormed to an early 3-0 lead in the 41st minute against the defending Champions League victors Real Madrid in columbus, Ohio.
• Even without superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, Real Madrid could never find their way back into the match after giving up such a large deficit in the first half
• 18-year-old Jonathan Ikone put his immense talent on display with his solo goal in just the second minute of the first half
• Thomas Meunier scored the remaining two goals for PSG and Real Madrid eventually found the back of the net after a penalty kick from Marcelo

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•  Liverpool first loss of preseason play came against Chelsea at the historical Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
• Chelsea goal came from Gary Cahill early in the first have and turned the game into a tactical defensive battle from both sides for the remainder of the match
• Liverpool had its chances but could simply not find the back of the net
• After a 70th minute red card send off for Cesc Fabregas and seven yellow cards later, it became hard to tell if this match was still just an ICC friendly

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•  This action packed first half clash between Barcelona and Celtic took Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland
• Barcelonas juggernaut offense was far to much for Celtic, who conceited two goals and recorded an own goal in the first half
• Celtic saw themselves level at one point when the Barcelona defense gifted Leigh Griffiths Celtics only goal
• Messi and Saurez were both included in the starting lineup and help lead the team to victory in dominant fashion

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•  Real Madrid dominant first half display was just enough to get them past a talented Chelsea squad
• Marcelo added to his ICC campaign score sheet, recording two more goals in the first 26 minutes of play
• Eden Hazard provided two late goals in the 80th and 90th minute, but were not enough to make up for their forgettable first half
• An astonishing 105,826 were in attendance at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan

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• Bayern Munich faced Inter Milan in their opening match of their ICC campaign at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina
• USMNT’s and Bayern Munich young gun Julian Green blew Inter Milan out of the water with his first half 35 minute
• This break-out game for Julian Green was one Bayern Munich and USA fans had been waiting for

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• Liverpool’s second match of their ICC tournament took place against AC Milan in the brand new Levis Stadium
• Liverpool dominated possesion but lacked composure in the final third of play
• Daniel Sturridge was included in the starting line-up, marking his preseason debut
• Play opened up for Liverpool in the second half, with goals coming from Divock Origi in the 59th minute and Roberto Firmino in the the 73rd minute.

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• PSG finished their ICC campaign with a bang, recording four goals against the reigning Premier League Champions
• Edinson Cavani, Nanitamo Ikone, Lucas Moura and Odsonne Edouard all recorded goals in their landslide victory
• Nanitamo Ikone had a very impressive tournament for PSG, propelling them to a 3-0 record and a +8 on goal differential

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• Barcelona opened up play with a dominant 3-0 first half, with two goals from Munir El Haddadi and one from Luis Suarez
• Leicester fought their way back in contention with the help of Ahmed Musa and his two second half goals but could never find an eaquilizer
• Leicester had a very dissapointing ICC tournament, losing all three of their matches

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•  Bayern Munich put on display a dominate first half but could not seem to get anything going in the final third of play except a free kick off the post in the 25th minute by David Alaba
• Second half substitute Danilo produced the decisive moment in the second half with a 79th minute goal
• This was Bayern Munichs first defeat in the last six preseason matches

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PSG wins their second straight International Champions cup in stunning fashion. With three wins, a clean sheet in the loss column and +8 goal differential, it seems as if PSG can’t wait to get this upcoming season underway.

Attendance Records