Real Madrid continues to suffer

The madridistas fall (1-3) against the ‘rossoneri’ and extend their crisis in a bad defensive game and without ideas or fluidity in attack

Real Madrid lost this Tuesday against AC Milan 1-3 on the fourth day of the league phase of the 2024-2025 Champions League and prolonged its crisis of play and results, a dangerous defeat for its European aspirations in a match in the one who was always behind, thanks to the goals of Malick Thiaw, former Real Madrid player Álvaro Morata and Tijani Reijnders.

A Real Madrid without ideas and without the usual fang in the Champions League and the Bernabéu was left without an epic and direct access to the round of 16 is complicated with only 6 points out of a possible 12. Not even the mystique that did help on so many occasions, also against Borussia Dortmund, appeared against a Milan that did not need its best version to overcome a European champion that was poorly defended and that extended its bad moment after 0-4 in the Classic.

It is the first time that the whites have had two consecutive defeats in their fiefdom since March 2019, when they also lost to Barça (0-1) and Ajax (1-4) in the Champions League; and they had not lost in the Champions League at home for more than a year and a half, since April 2022. Vinícius’ goal in a Panenka-style penalty was a mirage, in a team that is still looking for a convincing version.

After the emotional tribute to the DANA victims and the whistles of the UEFA anthem for the Ballon d’Or gala, the whites began with rhythm and putting pressure on a brave Milan with the ball, but the Madrid momentum quickly faded and with a harsh blow of reality. In a corner with a very soft Real Madrid defense, especially Aurélien Tchouaméni, who was forcefully beaten at the near post by center back Malick Thiaw to overtake the Italians and shatter Ancelotti’s plan.

Kylian Mbappé, who started as poorly as in the Classic, and Vinícius tried to respond quickly with two consecutive chances that Mike Maignan effectively rejected. The match entered that expected gray terrain taking into account that both teams needed to win given their balance so far. The Italians did damage from set pieces, and Real Madrid wanted to run, and found a reward.

Vinícius found the ball after a good combination inside the area between Jude Bellingham and Ferland Mendy inside the area, and when the Brazilian tried to pass Emerson Royal, the center-back slightly touched the forward. And the ‘7’ vindicated himself by shooting the maximum penalty like Panenka to equalize the match and give another life to a somewhat lost Real Madrid.

Mainly, in a midfield that still does not command the games, far from being that glue that gives meaning to the defensive and offensive systems. And it was a rude error by Tchouaméni in the construction that allowed Leao to receive in the area, turn and demand a Lunin who, after saving a good previous shot, responded well by stretching his arm, but Morata collected the rebound and scored at pleasure silencing the Bernabéu.

Ancelotti responded to the whistles at half-time from the Madrid stands with two changes, bringing on Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Díaz for Fede Valverde and Tchouaméni. But the Italian coach, dissatisfied, failed to provoke that reaction. Real Madrid still did not offer anything in attack and suffered at the back, with Lunin saving an accurate and powerful shot from Leao that could have been definitive.

The stands were beginning to get impatient with the lack of control of their team, who did not bite, with a very unstructured pressure and even with their stars missing. Not even the attempts on the counter by a Bellingham team that was in tune with its efforts but misguided in the face of goal could lift a directionless Real Madrid already with an hour of play.

The merengue team went into a loop and unprotected their defense at the worst moment. In a counterattack without the necessary forcefulness at the back, Reijnders invented a dribble to leave Camavinga and Ceballos behind and give the ball to a very fast Leao who faced the area without opposition and assisted the Dutchman, who easily beat Lunin and brought the goal closer. Italian triumph.

However, the whites had something to say and found themselves 2-3 thanks to Antonio Rüdiger, but the referee annulled it due to Vinícius’ offside when interfering with the rival goalkeeper. Brahim was able to make up for the poor white game, but his header was saved by a successful Maignan.

TECHNICAL SHEET.

–RESULT: REAL MADRID, 1 – AC MILAN, 3 (1-2, at half-time).

–ALIGNMENTS:

REAL MADRID: Lunin; Lucas Vázquez, Militao, Rüdiger, Mendy (Fran García, min.74); Tchouaméni (Camavinga, min.46), Valverde (Brahim Díaz, min.46), Modric (Ceballos, min.63), Bellingham (Rodrygo Goes, min.74); Mbappé and Vinícius.

AC MILAN: Maignan; Emerson (Calabria, min.90+3), Thiaw, Tomori, Théo Hernández; Musah (Pavlovic, min.90+3), Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic (Loftus-Cheek, min.70), Morata (Abraham, min.70) and Leao (Okafor, min.77).

–GOALS:

0-1, min.12: Malick Thiaw.

1-1, min.23: Vinícius Júnior.

1-2, min.39: Álvaro Morata.

1-3, min.73: Tijani Reijnders.

–REFEREE: Slavko Vincic (SLO). He cautioned Camavinga (min.58), Lucas Vñazquez (min.68), Militao (min.68) and Vinícius (min.71) by Real Madrid. And Morata (min.21) and Fofana (min.85) at AC Milan.

–STADIUM: Santiago Bernabéu, 75,561 spectators.

–INCIDENTS: In the preludes, a minute of silence was observed in memory of those who died in the DANA floods.