New Inter Milan signing Rodrigo Palacio scored the decisive goal as the Nerazzurri beat Como 3-2 in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday while AC Milan finally delivered some summer cheer to their fans with a 1-0 pre-season win over Schalke at the Veltins Arena.
Inter fielded Yuto Nagatomo in defence for the match and it was the Japan full-back who opened the scoring in impressive fashion after just six minutes. Nagatomo controlled a long pass from Fredy Guarin with his heel before beating the Como keeper Micai with a diagonal left-footer.
The Serie A side then doubled their advantage on 28 minutes when defender Andrea Ranocchia rose highest to Philippe Coutinho’s corner to head the ball into the back of the net.
Emanuele Bardelloni pulled one back for the hosts before Palacio, who joined Inter from Genoa in the current transfer window, penetrated the box from the right to send a low right-footed shot into the corner of the goal.
In the 89th minute Mazzocca added a consolation goal for Como after an error from defender Matteo Bianchetti left Inter keeper Vid Belec exposed.
The red side of Milan has been in shock following the sudden departures of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain. Add in defeats in Saturday’s Trofeo TIM games against Juventus and Inter and it is easy to see why so many Milan fans are not optimistic about this upcoming season. But last night a goal from Urby Emanuelson at least gave them something to smile about this week.
The Dutchman was on hand in the 64th minute to finish off a well constructed counterattack from the Rossoneri. Emanuelson managed to find the back of the net from an acute angle after an incisive one-two with Robinho.
Earlier, Kevin-Prince Boateng almost got the visitors off to the perfect start but he failed to get on the end of a Stephan El Shaarawy cross.
Late on, German Bundesliga side Schalke nearly grabbed an equaliser through former Milan forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, but he nodded the ball over the bar and the Italians held on for the victory.
