Champions League preview: Real Madrid v AC Milan
A clash between the two most successful clubs in European Cup history, each steeped in prestige and tradition, and complete with some of the best players on the planet: Real Madrid v AC Milan is a fixture like few others.
The two heavyweights of European football go head-to-head at the Bernabeu this evening, competing for Group G supremacy, in the stand-out tie of the night.
Rarely do Real Madrid, who have won the European Cup a record nine times, slip up on home turf, but they will have to be at their very best to come away from this evening’s clash with all three points.
This is actually the second successive year that the two clubs have met in the group stages of the Champions League. Last season, the Rossoneri stunned their opponents by winning in the Spanish capital. Alexandre Pato was the match winner that night, and the 21-year-old Brazilian will again by the danger man for the Serie A side this evening after starting the season averaging a goal every game.
The return to Spain of Zlatan Ibrahimovic also promises to be fascinating. The mercurial Swede has scored three goals in his first two European appearances since joining Milan from Real’s great rivals, Barcelona, in the summer to send out a clear warning to José Mourinho’s side.
The pragmatic Portuguese boss is bidding to become the first manager to win the Champions League with three different clubs – a task which should be made a whole lot easier with the help of Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues to get better and better with every passing match.
It’s difficult not to get distracted by tonight’s mouth-watering clash at the Bernabeu. However, there are a handful of other fixtures taking place on the continent this evening as the group stages reach the half-way mark.
Ajax host Auxerre in Group G’s other match. With one point and no points respectively, it’s not expected that either side will advance to the knockout rounds. But it’s not over until it’s mathematically impossible, and both clubs will be intent on keeping the pressure up on the two behemoths above them.
It’s a similar story in Group H, as Braga and Partizan Belgrade face off in Portugal. Both clubs have lost their opening two Champions League matches against Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk, who go head-to-head at the Emirates Stadium. The best they can realistically hope for is third place and a spot in the Europa League – hardly the worst consolation prize.
And there’s an exact same predicament in Group F, as Marseille and MSK Zilina fight for their Champions League lives. Defeat for either would condemn them to elimination, and as they battle for their futures, Chelsea take on Spartak Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium – the venue where John Terry missed that infamous penalty against Manchester United in the 2008 Champions League final.
Fortunately, things are a little more open in Group E. Bayern Munich lead the pack with two wins from two, and can effectively seal their place in the knockout rounds with a win against Romanian side Cluj. Meanwhile, Claudio Ranieri’s AS Roma host FC Basel at the Stadio Olympico, knowing that anything less than three points would be a major setback.
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