Real Madrid vs. AC Milan: Winners and Losers from Friendly Game
AC Milan produced a surprising result Tuesday, as they defeated Real Madrid 4-2 in a friendly match in Dubai.
Stephan El Shaarawy was the star of the match with two goals, while Jeremy Menez and Giampaolo Pazzini also contributed strikes.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema scored for Los Blancos, but their attack could not muster enough to start a comeback in the second half.
Here's a look at the winners and losers from Tuesday's friendly clash.
Winner: Stephan El Shaarawy
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The standout star from Tuesday's friendly was AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy.
The Italian playmaker netted two goals in a match where many expected Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale to steal the headlines.
In the 31st minute, El Shaarawy was given a ton of space to fire on goal from the left side of the penalty area. Eighteen minutes later, the 22-year-old opened up the second half with another wide-open strike.
He left the match in the 68th minute with a knock to his hamstring, but before he exited the pitch he was able to jog around, which is a positive sign for Milan moving forward.
Loser: Nacho
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The biggest blunder of the match came from Nacho, whose careless back pass allowed Jeremy Menez to score the first goal of the game.
Nacho was trying to play the ball to Keylor Navas from the left wing, but the pass had little pace on it. The pass put Navas in a difficult position, and before the 'keeper could pounce on the ball, Menez finished with ease.
The error was the first of a few defensive mishaps by the Real Madrid back four, who looked disjointed on a few of the goals netted by AC Milan.
Although the game was billed as a friendly, it did give Carlo Ancelotti a look into what he needs to fix during the second half of the season.
Winner: Philippe Mexes
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Philippe Mexes turned in a massive performance in the back four for AC Milan in the 4-2 victory.
The center-back, who surprisingly played all 90 minutes in Dubai, showed no fear in the first half with Real Madrid threatening to score.
Mexes slid in on numerous occasions in the first half to deny Los Blancos a chance to test Diego Lopez in goal.
Although he may not have wanted to go 90 minutes in a friendly, the Frenchman did not disappoint in a game that lost its pace in the final 15 minutes.
Losers: Real Madrid's Second-Half Attackers
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When the second half began, the trio of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez was expected to power a Real Madrid comeback.
Instead of leaving Dubai with a victory, the three attackers left the Sevens Stadium with a feeling of disappointment.
Benzema did score on a late penalty, but he had a golden chance in the 54th minute to give Madrid an opportunity to win. The Frenchman had an opening to finish a Jese shot that bounced off the post, but he skied his attempt over the goal instead.
James had a few chances as well, but both of his efforts from distance soared into the stands. As for Bale, he had a few shots on goal, but he could not beat Michael Agazzi.
While we shouldn't look too much into the performance of the trio, those three did have an off day during the final 45 minutes of the friendly.
Winner: Michael Agazzi
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Just seconds after entering the match for Diego Lopez, Michael Agazzi was forced to make a big denial on Bale.
Before the match ended, the summer arrival from Chievo had to make three saves on Real Madrid's Welsh marksman to preserve the victory for his side.
Agazzi may not receive much playing time throughout the rest of the 2014-15 campaign, but he did prove to manager Filippo Inzaghi that he is ready if he gets the call.
Winner: Jese
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Arguably the best player on the pitch for Real Madrid in Dubai was Jese.
The 21-year-old Spaniard was the driving force behind the club's first goal, and he provided a spark throughout a dull second half.
In the buildup to Cristiano Ronaldo's 35th-minute strike, Jese powered through the midfield to dish the ball off to the Portuguese superstar.
In a match where few Real Madrid fringe players impressed, Jese took advantage of his opportunity—which is exactly what Carlo Ancelotti wanted out of his young stars.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
