It was an outstanding win. AC Milan lit up the Bernabéu with a super performance to run out 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Thiaw, Morata and Reijnders, shaking off Vinícius Júnior's momentary equaliser from the spot. It's a gigantic result away to Ancelotti's Real Madrid on matchday 4 of the Champions League, a well-deserved and extremely precious result for a courageous AC Milan in a ground that has a fair many sides shaking in their boots. Malick's first Milan goal opened the scoring of the high-intensity meeting.
Former Real Madrid player, Álvaro Morata, brought the Diavolo back into the lead before the break and it was Tijjani who put the game to bed in the second half. Praise goes to the entire team. Words can't do it justice because the Rossoneri played an incredible game with determination and spirit until the very last. The surprise of Musah - chosen to start on the right by Coach Fonseca - caught the Spanish side off guard and Maignan came out on top of his personal face-off against fellow Frenchman Mbappé. And now, let's enjoy this win without stopping. We'll be back in league action at the weekend as we head away to Cagliari on Saturday 9 November. Onwards!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM REAL MADRID v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
High-pace from the very start. The first chance came for Real Madrid with Mbappé in the 3rd minute before AC Milan had their turn in the 5th minute through the Leão-Theo duo with the Frenchman's shot blocked by Lunin. In the 12th minute, a dead-ball situation opened the scoring: Pulisic took the corner and Thiaw headed home to secure the 1-0 lead. One minute later and it was Mbappé once again for Los Blancos, his quick run ended with a shot saved by Maignan. AC Milan came again through Pulisic in the 18th minute but in the 21st, Emerson Royal committed a foul on Vinícius Jr. in the box, leading to a penalty. The Brazilian stepped up to the spot and converted to make it 1-1. Once more, the Diavolo. Lunin kept Reijnders out in the 31st minute but 8 minutes later and we were back in the lead: Pulisic for Leão who turned and forced the Ukrainian keeper to save but Morata nodded it home on the rebound. Maignan made another big save on Mbappé at 43' but we went into the break 2-1 up.
We slowed our pace slightly in the second half. In the 47th minute, Vinícius Júnior's shot from distance didn't trouble Maignan. Real Madrid let us gain some space and we tried to make the most of it. In the 52nd minute, Leão got his head to Emerson Royal's cross but Lunin did well to keep us out. Four minutes later and Pulisic was leading a counter, ball for our number 10, shot blocked. The hosts struggled to react, Thiaw closed down Mbappé in the 62nd minute and Morata got a touch on the low corner from Pulisic but hit the far post in the 69th minute. The third came at 73': unstoppable run down the left from Leão, ball into the box for Reijnders who controlled well and shot past Lunin to make it 3-1. The battle was back alive in the final minutes. Real Madrid had chances through Militão and Rodrygo but Maignan kept them out. In the 88th minute, Loftus-Cheek went close to making it four. The Rossoneri keeper was brilliant once again on Díaz in injury time. 3-1 and victory!
MATCH DETAILS
REAL MADRID 1-3 AC MILAN
REAL MADRID (4-3-1-2): Lunin; Vázquez, Rüdiger, Militão, Mendy (74' Fran García); Valverde (46' Camavinga), Modrić (63' Ceballos), Tchouaméni (46' Díaz); Bellingham (74' Rodrygo); Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior. Subs: González, Mestre; Vallejo; Güler; Endrick. Coach: Ancelotti.
AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; E. Royal (90'+3 Calabria), Thiaw, Tomori, Hernández; Fofana, Reijnders; Musah (90'+3 Pavlović), Pulisic (70' Loftus-Cheek), Leão (78' Okafor); Morata (70' Abraham). Subs: Sportiello, Torriani; Terracciano; Camarda, Chukwueze. Coach: Fonseca.
Referee: Slavko Vinčić (SVN).
Goals: 12' Thiaw (M), 23' pen. Vinícius Júnior (RM), 39' Morata (M), 73' Reijnders (M).
Booked: 21' Morata (M), 58' Camavinga (RM), 68' Militão (RM), 68' Vázquez (RM), 71' Vinícius Júnior (RM), 85' Fofana (M).
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