The International Champions Cup is drawing to a close, and two of the biggest teams in the world are playing their last match of the preseason tournament looking for a big win. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are two titans of the game and any time they meet -- no matter what time of year or what the competition is -- their matches demand your attention.
Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid 2016: Time, TV schedule and news for International Champions Cup
Both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are looking for a second straight win to close out their ICC campaigns.
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
What makes this game even more interesting is the fact that both of these teams are in something of a stage of transition. Zinedane Zidane won the Champions League for Real last season in his first half-season as a manager, but he was still very much working with the squad built by Rafa Benitez and Carlo Ancelotti before him. Now he’s trying to put his own stamp on things and it’s going to be interesting to see how Madrid look now that he’s had time to make it his team.
Bayern are now working under the purview of Ancelotti, who replaces the recently departed Pep Guardiola in Munich. He’s got a big job to transition Guardiola’s vision to fit his own. They’ve been playing very well in the preseason so far, with a penalty shootout loss to AC Milan their only blemish so far during preparations. Even without most of their participants from Euro 2016, they’ve looked like they’re taking to Ancelotti’s methods well, and when those big stars come back, Europe will need to be on notice.
Fun Bayern Munich player to watch: Julian Green
Green was impressive against AC Milan in Bayern’s losing effort in that match, but it was against Inter when he really shone, exploding for a first-half hat trick and standing out as the clear player of the match. The last couple of years have been decidedly rough on Green’s development, but he’s still a high-potential member of the USMNT’s future, and one who fans will monitor closely. If he can continue his hot form and earn a role on Ancelotti’s Bayern side or a loan to a starting gig elsewhere, there’s a lot of reason to get excited about Green again.
Fun Real Madrid player to watch: Marcelo
The Brazilian left back occasionally makes some defensive gaffes, but there aren’t many fullbacks better in the final third than he is. He’s spent his ICC experience demonstrating just how true that is, scoring three of Real’s four ICC goals so far and earning the assist on the other. He’s been a dominant force at a time when the rest of their attack is still struggling a bit to get going -- in large part because of post-Euro 2016 vacations -- but at least Marcelo is doing his part to keep the attack clicking over and then some.
Match Date/Time: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
TV: ESPN2 (U.S. - English), ESPN Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Sport1 (Germany), Antena 3
Online: WatchESPN (U.S.)
See More:
