New manager Paulo Fonseca might have found the ideal role for Pulisic ahead of his second season at San Siro

Trust the American to show up in Baltimore, right? There were 51,000 fans inside M&T Bank Stadium on Tuesday as AC Milan took on Barcelona – and a good chunk were there to see what Christian Pulisic could do. The U.S. men's national team star delivered in full, as he was at the center of everything good Milan did, showing immense promise after being deployed in a new position at No.10 as he carried the load in a 2-2 friendly draw.

Pulisic played his part in Milan's 10th-minute opener, as he turned his man before playing an angled ball across the box which Luka Jovic turned in at the far post. Five minutes later, the American created Milan's second all by himself, evading two defenders before firing into the top corner from a tight angle.

But Barca responded, as Robert Lewandowski curled an effort into the bottom corner from outside the box midway through the first half. The Pole added a second after the break, too, as he volleyed in from close-range off a delicate feed from pre-season breakout star Pau Victor.

Chances were otherwise relatively few. Pulisic was removed from the contest after an hour, and Milan rather simmered after that. Meanwhile, Barca couldn't create much else – save for a Victor goal that was correctly ruled out for offside.

Still, in front of American fans, this game was about one singular virtuosic performance. Pulisic is an excellent footballer who has never quite pieced together a full season under the right manager. Even last campaign he went through dry spells. This is now his second go-around in Milan, and could be his first complete campaign as a No. 10. Early signs suggest he is ready to take the next step to truly elite status.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from M&T Bank Stadium…

GettyWINNER: Christian Pulisic

Has Paulo Fonseca unlocked something here? Two weeks ago, the new Milan boss refused to speculate as to whether Pulisic could play as an attacking midfielder in his preferred 4-2-3-1 system. But here, the Portuguese manager showed his hand, deploying the American as his do-it-all No.10.

And the results were more than encouraging. The raw production immediately catches the eye – Pulisic scored one and assisted another – but it was his involvement as a whole that will have most pleasd his manager. Pulisic received the ball in tight areas, and always looked to make the forward pass. He connected well with Rafael Leao and Jovic, while also going about his off-ball work diligently. 'Captain America' might just have a new position.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Samuel Chukwueze

If one attacking player for Milan had a memorable night, then another let an opportunity slip away. Samuel Chukwueze endured a mixed season last year, his lack of pre-season preparation certainly impacting his ability to settle in over the course of the campaign.

Under Fonseca, it seems that he might just be entrusted with a bigger role. Pulisic's move to the center suggests that the position on the right of the forward line is Chukwueze's to lose. However, he didn't necessarily make the most of his manager's vote of confidence here.

Chukwueze was slow in his decision-making, and rather erratic at times. He made the wrong pass at inopportune moments and completed just one dribble on the night. He admittedly deserves credit for his involvement in the Milan opener, but as an overall showing, this was middling at best.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Robert Lewandowski

Has Lewandowski still got it? The Poland international certainly looked to be slowing down during the second half of the last campaign as his goals dried up and it became clear that he might not be the right fit in this Barca system anymore. Rumoured Saudi Pro League interest seemed to be coming at the right time as Lewandowski wasn't cutting it.

And he still may not. But Lewandowski has certainly looked good enough over the last two friendlies to suggest that he can still have a role to play in Catalunya. He grabbed an important assist in Saturday's Clasico and got himself on the scoresheet here with a fine finish from outside the box before adding a second after the break to round off a fine evening.

Hansi Flick has gotten the best out of Lewandowski before at Bayern Munich, and there are some early signs that he might be able to do it again.

Getty ImagesLOSER: Barca's potential loanees

It often gets lost in all of the talk about poor finances and the players Barca can't sign that the Blaugrana actually have an incredibly bloated squad. There's a potential Chelsea-esque loan army that has been assembled in Catalunya, a series of ageing stars and unwanted youngsters who don't seem to be part of the first-team picture.

It's difficult to tell what, exactly, these friendlies represent, then. Are they a chance to show Flick that they can stick around? Or are they a brief advert to potential suitors that they can still do it at a high level?

Either way, none of the old heads really showed up. Clement Lenglet had a miserable day at the back. Inigo Martinez failed to impress. And Vitor Roque, who was inexplicably signed in January but now seems set to leave less than a year later, didn't do much, either. The kids showed up; the undesirables did not.