Over several time zones and in neutral venues, the International Champions Cup is a pre-season tournament which pits the best teams in the world against each other in a friendly league before the start of the domestic season. Teams can integrate new signing into the team, and new managers can tinker with their squads and try out young players.
Even though it is a friendly competition, excitement surrounds the International Champions Cup. Unfortunately, the 2020 edition has been cancelled, meaning Benfica cannot defend their title, but the 2021 edition will be back stronger.
International Champions Cup Background
BetGold enables you to enjoy betting on the International Champions Cup, which may be a friendly tournament but could mean you are quids in if you pick the right odds. It was first held in 2013 and revamped in 2014: Real Madrid triumphed in the former, with Chelsea second; in 2014 Manchester United pipped Liverpool to the title. Both tournaments contained only eight teams.
International Champions Cup 2015 Edition
In 2015 there were 15 teams involved, including AS Roma, AC Milan, Read Madrid and New York Red Bulls. Paris Saint-Germain regained their 2015 title in 2016, in a tournament which was hit by adverse weather in China, which prompted the suspension of betting. Barcelona won the International Champions Cup in 2017, followed by Tottenham Hotspur in 2018 and Benfica in 2019.
International Champions Cup 2018 Format & Winner
In 2018, 18 teams played three matches each, mainly in the US. Six teams from England, four from Italy, three from Spain, two each from France and Germany and Benfica contested 27 matches in July and August 2018.
Betting, and scanning the odds, was encouraged. Any draws after normal time were settled by penalties, with two points awarded to the winning team and one for the team which lost the shootout. Betting on the result of a possible shootout is permitted.
In front of 55,000 fans in Charlotte, North Carolina, Christian Pulisic scored twice as Borussia Dortmund beat Liverpool 3-1. Liverpool then went to New Jersey and overcame Manchester City in a last-minute 2-1 win, when the odds dictated they would not come back into the game.
Meanwhile, Ander Herrera finally sealed victory for Manchester United over AC Milan in a shootout which had 26 kicks; goalkeeper Joel Pereira missed the fifth penalty for Manchester United after Pepe Reina had scored a crucial kick for Milan.
Atlético Madrid only needed five penalties to beat Arsenal after a 1-1 draw in Kallang, Singapore. The Gunners demolished Paris Saint-Germain 5-1 two days later in front of 50,000 people, then overcame Chelsea on penalties in their third game after Alexandre Lacazette had scored in stoppage time.
Chelsea and Juventus both won shootouts, beating Inter Milan and Benfica respectively, in their second games of the tournament; the Blues then beat Lyon in front of a home crowd at Stamford Bridge, while Juventus lost 3-1 to Real Madrid.
Over 100,000 fans crammed into the football stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan as Liverpool trounced Manchester United 4-1, with Xherdan Shaqiri scoring a particularly brilliant overhead kick. The team from Manchester at least restored some pride by beating Real Madrid in their third game in Miami. By virtue of scoring one more goal than Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur won a trophy, against the odds.
International Champions Cup Betting Tips
BetGold is the right place for all the fans looking for football betting tips to make the most out of their bets on the International Champions Cup football tournament.
When the event takes place you can rest assured that we will have it covered and professional betting tips and competitive predictions will be posted right here.
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