AC Milan vs Real Madrid, a true Clash of the Titans
UEFA Champions’ League group stage fixture between AC Milan and Real Madrid was a highly anticipated match.
The Los Blancos, as Real are often fondly called, have cemented their place in the annals of European football, having won the European Cup (now the UEFA Champions’ league) 9 times. This is the most number of European cups for any club ever.
The Rossoneri, to refer to Milan by their nickname, are behind in this regard only to the illustrious opponents Real Madrid, having themselves won Europe’s premier football competition a staggering 7 times.
Both teams went into this big match on the back of some impressive performances in their respective domestic leagues.
The match then was bound to be a cracker, with both sides boasting of many fantastic players in their ranks. It was certainly not a disappointing affair, neither for the 72,000 fans, who turned up at the Santiago Bernabeu, nor for the millions, who would
have undoubtedly watched on television.
The match was great to watch for Real fans and neutrals, even though it might have been a little painful to watch for Milan fans, as Real always threatened to put them out of the game for good.
Real created chances from the very start. Their dominance can be judged by the fact that the Argentine winger-c*m-striker Angel De Maria had already missed two decent chances before the first goal went in.
The first goal reminded everyone what Cristiano Ronaldo is really all about. A free-kick was needlessly conceded by Milan on the edge of their box, Alexandre Pato being the real culprit. And Ronaldo did not need a second invitation. He drove a missile through
the Milan wall and the ball sailed into the back of the net. Real were 1-0 up on the night, with only 13 minutes on the clock.
The misery was doubled for Milan more than a minute after that initial strike, as German wonder-boy, Mesut Ozil, fired a volley into the ground that hit the shoulder of Bonera and went in.
Milan might have been unfortunate, but all the same Real were 2-0 up, with Ronaldo again involved in the goal, this time being the creator after a good run down the left.
Milan never looked capable of coming back from a 2-0 deficit try as they might. All their great players, Ronaldinho, Pirlo and Seedorf, were disappointments on the night despite showing some flashes of brilliance.
Andrea Pirlo did produce one of his trademark dipping free-kicks, that needed Iker Casillas to make a good save and a little later Ronaldinho did flick a good pass to Seedorf, who could only sky his shot from inside the Real box. Real still did not stop
creating great chances though and it was Cristiano Ronaldo again, who was the closest to scoring, hitting a bullet of a shot at replacement keeper Amelia, who did well to parry it out.
Massimiliano Allegri, threw on forwards Robinho and Fillip Inzaghi in the 72nd and 78th minutes respectively, in place of Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato, in a bid to bring his side back into the game, but they too proved largely ineffectual.
Robinho did hit one good shot that was well saved by Casillas, but could not trouble his former team-mates much further.
Real Madrid then deservedly went on to gain all 3 points from the game. They do look a changed side under the magician that is Jose Mourinho. They are much more disciplined in defense and midfield while running their pace in blitz in attack, and look ready
to dazzle any opponents that stand in their way to trophies this season.
Milan were well and truly beaten, their coach Massimo Allegri conceded after the match, “The first quarter of an hour was crucial. They scored two goals, and we didn’t know what to do”.
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