Real Madrid prove too strong for AC Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu
Real Madrid beat AC Milan 2–0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, 19 October, going five points clear at the top of Group G.
The Spanish giants steamed ahead with two first-half goals in quick succession from star duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil and went on to hold the lead until the end of the game.
“We've done a fantastic job and were tactically very intelligent. I can only congratulate the players and I hope the fans are satisfied after that game," said Real manager Jose Mourinho after the win.
The Santiago Bernabeu was buzzing from the first minute, and the home team responded in kind during the first half.
In the 11th minute, Alexandre Pato conceded a free kick for a foul on Xabi Alonso on the edge of the box following a Real corner, and Ronaldo stepped up to take care of the set piece.
As the Milan wall separated, the winger's low shot found a way through and into the goal behind the abandoned Marco Amelia, who could only watch as the stadium erupted. It was Ronaldo's first European
goal of the season.
Quickly after the restart, the winger charged towards the box from the left wing, pulling the ball back for Ozil on the edge of the box. The German's first-time shot deflected wickedly off Daniele Bonera
and looped into the goal to further stun the Italians.
Real nearly conceded a goal in the 29th minute, but Andrea Pirlo's free kick off his right foot hit the bar.
Ronaldinho opened up the Real defence by playing Clarence Seedorf in on the left with 34 minutes gone, but the former Real player took too much time to steady himself and sent his shot over the bar.
Quiet second half seals Real's victory
In the second half, Real continued to look dangerous, as Gonzalo Higuain got on the end of a cross with a powerful header eight minutes after the break, but Amelia dove to save comfortably.
Ronaldo should have claimed his second goal of the competition in the 72nd minute, but the Portuguese shot wide after being teed up by Marcelo.
At the other end, substitute Robinho picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box near the end of the game, unleashing a fierce drive towards the near post that Casillas was able to block.
Real have nine points from three games in the group, with Milan on four points in second place, where they are tied with Ajax Amsterdam. AJ Auxerre have yet to collect a point.
"I think that ten or 11 points and we're through, but we want to finish top of our group so we have to pick up more," said Mourinho, who intends to hold on to the lead in the group. "If we don't lose in
Milan, we will almost guarantee first place."
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