AC Milan delivered a shock 3-1 win over holders Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, as they handed the Spanish giants another blow following a disappointing 4-0 loss to Barcelona in the Clasico.
The victory at the Santiago Bernabeu saw Milan come from behind to claim a famous triumph, bolstered by goals from Malick Thiaw, Alvaro Morata, and Tijjani Reijnders.
The match got off to an explosive start when Milan took the lead in the 12th minute. A corner delivered by Christian Pulisic found Thiaw, who rose above the Real Madrid defense to head home, giving the visitors a surprise advantage.
However, the Spanish side responded quickly, with Vinicius Jr. scoring an equalizer from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute after being fouled by Milan defender Emerson Royal.
Despite the setback, Milan remained composed and retook the lead just before halftime. In the 39th minute, Morata was in the right place at the right time, tapping in a rebound after Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin had denied both Morata and Pulisic in quick succession. This goal put Milan ahead 2-1 and left Real Madrid reeling.
The second half saw Real Madrid struggle to break down Milan’s defensive setup. Despite Ancelotti’s three substitutions at the break, the hosts were unable to find a way past Milan’s disciplined defense.
The visitors, on the other hand, continued to exploit Real’s vulnerabilities on the counter-attack, with Rafael Leao proving a constant threat down the left flank.
In the 53rd minute, Lunin produced a stunning one-handed save to deny Leao’s header from close range, but Milan’s relentless pressure paid off in the 73rd minute.
Leao again provided the assist, crossing into the box where an unmarked Reijnders made no mistake, firing a low shot into the net to seal Milan’s dominant 3-1 lead.
Real Madrid’s hopes of a late rally were dashed when Antonio Rudiger thought he had pulled one back in the 82nd minute, only for the goal to be disallowed due to an offside in the build-up.
The Bernabeu crowd, already frustrated from their team’s lackluster display, were left in disbelief as their side walked off the pitch under heavy boos.
This defeat leaves Real Madrid in 17th place in the 36-team Champions League standings with just six points, one place ahead of Milan, who have an identical points tally but are ahead on goal difference.
It marks the second consecutive loss for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, a rare occurrence for the club, which hasn’t suffered back-to-back defeats since 2021.
Milan’s head coach, Paulo Fonseca, had clearly studied Real Madrid’s weaknesses, taking advantage of the spaces left by Madrid’s defensive line.
He praised his team’s tactical discipline, particularly their ability to exploit counter-attacks, which proved to be a decisive factor in the match.
As Real Madrid faces growing pressure to regain their form, Milan’s emphatic win serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the Champions League, with the Italian side sending a strong message to the competition.