New Delhi: AC Milan's torrid pre-season preparations have continued as they were trounced by Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening 4-1 at the Allianz Arena in the Audi Cup.
The Italians were trailing most of the way by a single strike, but always looked second best before a flurry of late goals ensured they had no chance at a comeback.
Leonardo employed a 4-4-2 formation, using the energetic Ignazio Abate on the right wing with Ronaldinho supporting Pato, but the tactical change has not improved the club's poor results in pre-season.
It was an uphill battle early on as Bayern forward Thomas Muller opened the scoring after just 12 minutes and the Bavarians looked in complete control for the entire first-half.
Leonardo threw on Marco Borriello and Gennaro Gattuso at the outset of the second-half, but the duo did not help Milan's cause as Bastian Schweinsteiger doubled the lead in the 79th minute from after a defensive mix-up.
Andrea Pirlo pulled one back from a set-piece following a hand-ball, but Saer Sene and Muller ensured the scoreline reflected Bayern's dominance.
Boca Juniors lost to Manchester United 2-1 in the other semi-final. The string of losses will give Milan coach Leonardo more ammunition to make a plea for reinforcements before the start of the 2009-10 campaign.
Milan 1-4 Bayern Munich
12 ', 90' Muller (B)
80 'Schweinsteiger (B)
81' Pirlo (M)
89 'Sene (B)
Bayern Munich (4-3-1-2): Butt; Lahm, Van Buyten, Badstuber, Braafheid (46' Schweinsteiger); Altintop, Van Bommel, Pranjic; Sosa; Gomez, Muller.
Milan (4-4-2): Storari; Zambrotta (74' Antonini), Nesta (64' Onyewu), Thiago Silva (74' Kaladze), Favalli; Abate, Flamini, Pirlo, Jankulovski (46' Gattuso); Pato, Ronaldinho (46' Borriello).
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