Real Madrid 1-3 AC Milan. No European comeback this time. Here is the immediate reaction to the defeat. On the way: Player ratings, post game highlights and the a podcast.
The tragic events in Spain meant that Real Madrid had not played since the 4-0 loss at home to Barcelona in El Clásico. With all of the frustrations of the Ballon d’Or building up alongside that defeat, this home Champions League game against AC Milan would provide the prime opportunity to begin the turnaround… Andriy Lunin would be back in goal as Thibaut Courtois continued to recover from injury – with Lucas Vázquez also resuming his role as a stand-in for Dani Carvajal. Rodrygo Goes was amongst the listed substitutes. Luka Modrić captained the side.
Madrid seemed to start brightly after Kylian Mbappé got the first shot off within two minutes, but it was AC Milan who struck first after Aurélien Tchouaméni was caught lacking by his man to head past Andriy Lunin. Mbappé tried to respond straight away after linking with Vinícius Júnior, but again shot wide of the target. Vinícius was then chopped down to gain Madrid a penalty, which was silkily lofted past the keeper to give the team a lifeline. Milan would be ahead by half-time though, with proactive Castilla graduate Álvaro Morata beating static midfielders Aurélien Tchouaméni and Fede Valverde too easily – getting to a rebounded Rafael Leão shot first to give Lunin no chance. Mbappé had the last chance of the half, shooting wide. 1-2 at half-time.
Changes were made at half-time as Valverde and Tchouaméni were hooked. Lunin still had to make the first save of the half from a Leão header. Morata then almost bagged a second, before Milan did get a third after a solo run from Tijjani Reijnders. Things were really looking bleak, even when Antonio Rüdiger volleyed into an empty net only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. It could have been four yet again if not for Lunin, who made a low save to deny Ruben Loftus-Cheek late on. Up next: Liverpool at Anfield…
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