Real Madrid suffered their second defeat in the UEFA Champions League this season as AC Milan claimed a stunning 3-1 win at the Bernabeu. Alvaro Morata returned to haunt his old side, scoring his seventh goal against them, while Vinicius Junior’s penalty was not enough as goals from Malick Thiaw and Tijjani Reijnders earned the Italians a huge three points. Thiaw opened the scoring with a header, Vinicius equalized from the spot, Morata put Milan back in front, and Reijnders added a third for the Italians to secure the win.
Madrid, who have now conceded seven goals in their last two games, were comfortably second-best against Milan. The Italians displayed resilience in defense and clinical finishing in attack, posing a worrying question about the Spanish side’s current form. Despite their struggles, Madrid still sit 17th in the Champions League table, just ahead of Milan in 18th. The defeat comes as Madrid are already nine points behind Barcelona in La Liga after their 4-0 El Clasico loss, raising questions about manager Carlo Ancelotti’s position following the defeat against his former team.
Alvaro Morata was the standout player of the match, scoring against his former club once again. With his seventh goal against Madrid in his career, Morata proved to be a thorn in their side once more. The AC Milan striker showed great awareness and composure to poke home a crucial goal in the match. Despite being booed by Madrid fans in previous encounters, Morata used the negative reception as motivation to deliver for his new team and secure a vital win at the Bernabeu.
In terms of player ratings, AC Milan’s Morata received a standout rating of 9 for his performance, while Real Madrid’s Vinicius, who scored from the penalty spot, was rated at 7. Milan’s defensive solidity and attacking efficiency were evident throughout the match, with players like Pulisic and Leao also putting in strong performances. Madrid, on the other hand, struggled to contain Milan’s attacking threat, with key players like Mbappe falling short in their contributions.
Key moments in the game included Thiaw opening the scoring with a header, Vinicius equalizing from the penalty spot, Morata putting Milan ahead again, and Reijnders adding a third goal for the Italians. Despite Rudiger pulling one back for Madrid late in the game, VAR disallowed another potential goal for offside. Madrid had chances to claw back into the match, with Vinicius and Diaz missing opportunities, but Milan’s strong defensive display ultimately secured the victory.
Overall statistics highlighted Morata’s prowess against Madrid, as well as Madrid’s defensive struggles in the match. The team’s consecutive home defeats conceding three or more goals for the first time since 2009 raised concerns about their defensive stability. With pressure mounting on Ancelotti following the defeat and their poor form in both European and domestic competitions, Madrid will need to regroup and find solutions to turn their season around. Milan’s unexpected victory at the Bernabeu showcased their resilience and quality, shaking up the Champions League group standings and underlining their potential as a contender in the competition.
