Real Madrid 1-3 AC Milan: Match Player Ratings
The Santiago Bernabéu witnessed a thrilling clash as AC Milan emerged victorious over Real Madrid with a convincing 1-3 win. The Rossoneri displayed impressive attacking prowess, securing their dominance in the first half and holding on to their lead in a tense second half.
Here's a breakdown of the player ratings for both teams:
AC Milan (4-2-3-1)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (8/10): The Italian goalkeeper was a commanding presence between the sticks, pulling off crucial saves to deny Real Madrid numerous scoring opportunities. He showed great reflexes and positioning, ensuring his clean sheet remained intact for a significant portion of the match.
Davide Calabria (7/10): Calabria was a solid defender on the right flank, providing defensive solidity and overlapping runs to support the attack. He was particularly effective in keeping Vinicius Jr. in check.
Pierre Kalulu (7/10): Kalulu displayed excellent strength and composure in the heart of the defense, effectively thwarting Real Madrid's attacking threats.
Fikayo Tomori (7/10): The English center-back formed a formidable partnership with Kalulu, displaying excellent positional awareness and tactical discipline. He made a crucial block to deny Benzema a clear scoring chance in the second half.
Theo Hernandez (8/10): Hernandez was a constant menace down the left flank, providing both defensive solidity and relentless attacking impetus. His overlapping runs and pinpoint crosses caused havoc for Real Madrid's backline.
Sandro Tonali (7/10): The Italian midfielder controlled the midfield, dictating the tempo of the game and making crucial interceptions to break up Real Madrid's attacks.
Rade Krunic (7/10): Krunic complemented Tonali's efforts in midfield, providing defensive solidity and timely forward passes.
Brahim Diaz (8/10): Diaz was a constant threat going forward, utilizing his dribbling skills and sharp passing to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. He deservedly bagged a goal and an assist, proving his importance to the attacking line.
Rafael Leao (9/10): Leao was the star of the show, showcasing his blistering pace, intricate footwork, and clinical finishing. He was directly involved in two goals, scoring a brilliant solo effort and providing the assist for Diaz's goal.
Olivier Giroud (8/10): The veteran striker was a nuisance for Real Madrid's defenders throughout the game, holding the ball up effectively and creating space for his teammates. He also netted a crucial goal, proving his value as a target man.
Substitutes:
- Junior Messias (7/10): The Brazilian substitute came on and provided fresh legs, adding further attacking dynamism to the team.
Real Madrid (4-3-3)
Thibaut Courtois (6/10): Courtois had a mixed performance, making some crucial saves but also conceding three goals. He was perhaps caught off guard by the intensity of Milan's attack.
Dani Carvajal (6/10): Carvajal struggled to contain the threat of Theo Hernandez, finding it difficult to track his overlapping runs.
Eder Militao (6/10): Militao had a relatively quiet game, but he couldn't stop Leao's individual brilliance, ultimately conceding a goal to the Portuguese forward.
David Alaba (6/10): Alaba had a difficult outing, struggling to deal with the physicality of Giroud and the pace of Leao.
Ferland Mendy (6/10): Mendy was unable to provide the necessary attacking support on the left flank and lacked the dynamism of his Milan counterpart.
Luka Modric (6/10): Modric was his usual composed self in midfield, but he was unable to impose his usual control on the game due to Milan's strong midfield presence.
Aurelien Tchouameni (6/10): Tchouameni had a mixed performance, showcasing his physicality and passing range but also making some crucial errors in midfield.
Federico Valverde (6/10): Valverde struggled to find his rhythm in the game, failing to provide the spark and creativity expected from him.
Karim Benzema (6/10): Benzema was relatively quiet in the game, failing to find the back of the net despite a couple of promising chances. He seemed to struggle against Milan's tight marking.
Vinicius Jr. (5/10): Vinicius had a disappointing performance, finding himself constantly marked by Calabria and failing to produce his usual impactful moments on the pitch.
Substitutes:
- Rodrygo (7/10): Rodrygo provided some much-needed spark in attack after coming on as a substitute, managing to create chances and scoring a consolation goal for Real Madrid.
Overall
AC Milan's victory was a well-deserved one, showcasing a superior performance across all areas of the pitch. They dominated possession, created more scoring opportunities, and ultimately outplayed their opponents. Real Madrid will need to improve their defensive organization and attacking efficiency to compete at this level.