AC Milan delivered a stunning 3-1 victory over Champions League holders Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, with goals from Malick Thiaw, Alvaro Morata, and Tijjani Reijnders sealing an impressive win. The Italian side, known for its European pedigree, outperformed the defending champions in a match that highlighted Real Madrid’s recent struggles.
Thiaw opened the scoring for Milan in the 12th minute, heading in from a corner. Real quickly responded, with Vinicius Jr. equalizing from the penalty spot just 11 minutes later. However, Milan regained control when Morata struck in the 39th minute, capitalizing on a rebound to restore their lead. The decisive blow came in the second half, as Reijnders connected with a Rafael Leao cross on a counterattack to secure the 3-1 result, marking a statement victory for the Rossoneri.
Real Madrid’s defensive issues were exposed again, especially after suffering a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico the previous week. Captain Lucas Vazquez acknowledged the need for defensive improvements, saying, “Defending, like attacking, is a collective effort, and we need to focus on that.” Milan’s manager Paulo Fonseca had studied Barcelona’s success against Real, utilizing similar tactics to exploit Real’s vulnerabilities in transition.
This defeat leaves Real Madrid in 17th place in the Champions League standings with six points, just above Milan on goal difference. With only two games left in the group stage, Real must regroup to keep their Champions League title defense alive.
Be First to Comment