CL Preview: Can AC Milan Make It a Double Against Real Madrid?

Real Madrid and AC Milan crossed swords only a fortnight ago, as the latter walked off the pitch with a 3-2 victory as a Alexandre Pato brace gave the Italians a shocking win at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

On Tuesday night, these two powerhouses will once again lace boots of war for the return fixture as they prepare for battle at the mighty San Siro. The home side will be hoping to make it a double while the away side will be fighting to restore their honor.

Expect an emotional encounter for former Rossoneri maestro, Ricardo Kaká, who returns to the ground that served as his second home for six long years. Considering the circumstances around which he was sold to Real Madrid, there’s no doubt that the Brazilian playmaker will get a standing ovation as he faces his old crowd for the first time since his summer switch to the Spanish capital.

Expect this mouth-watering ‘Derby d’Europa’ to be an unforgettable affair.

Ready. Set. Game.

AC Milan

Ahead of matchday four, Milan is proudly sitting atop group C with six points to their name and a superior goal record to their Tuesday night opponents, Real Madrid.

After going through a rough patch in their domestic play, Leonardo’s men managed an impressive 2-1 win against Marseille in their opening Champions League game after Pippo Inzaghi scored on each side of the interval to make it a 2-1 scoreline in favor of the visitors.

Milan followed up by a disappointing—and surprising—defeat to Swiss outfit FC Zürich on the second matchday. However, their fortunes were to turn as they entered into the third group stage game against Real Madrid in the Spanish capital.

After going into the interval with a 1-0 deficit after a classic Didá howler, there were few who believed that the Rossoneri were going to be able to turn the score. However, Andrea Pirlo created a goal out of nothing and provided his side a way back into the game.

Alexandre Pato slotted home the following minutes after but watched as Royston Drenthe equalized for the home side shortly after. The drama wasn’t over and in the closing stages of the clash the young Brazilian hitman completed his brace as he struck 3-2 behind Iker Casillas.

The victory against Real confirmed the Milan outfit’s turnaround as things have been looking rather bright on the domestic front as well.  Seven points in three games has resulted in the team finally being within touching distance to the top as they now sit on fourth place in Serie A.

Goalkeeper Marco Storari and centre back Alessandro Nesta have undoubtedly been the brightest players for the Rossoneri this season, but it now it finally seems like the entire team has woken up. On top of that, Leonardo’s finally gotten some much needed breathing space after the intense start to the campaign.

In the absence of the injured Storari even Didá has managed to find good form as he’s delivered miracles on a weekly basis lately. Ronaldinho can be downright brilliant at times and Pato’s goal drought seems to be a thing of the past.

At the moment, things are undoubtedly looking good for Milan, but staying grounded and keeping their focus for a full 90 minutes will be vital against a Real that has struggled as of lately—the ones put up against the wall tend to be the most trickiest to handle.

Probable starting XI: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf; Pato, Ronaldinho, Inzaghi

Real Madrid

While starting well on the domestic front, Real also got off to their Champions League adventure in fashion as they recorded two victories on the trot by trashing FC Zürich on the road with an impressive 5-2 scoreline—which Los Merengues then followed up with a 3-0 win against Marseille at the Bernabeu.

Real went into the clash—without a certain Cristiano Ronaldo on the stands due to injury—with AC Milan on matchday three as clear favorites as two of most storied clubs in Europe clashed. Despite being up 1-0 at the interval, the home side wasn’t able to maintain the Rossoneri who capitalized on the many defensive errors made by Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

It was clear that the team was heading into a crisis of some degree as they followed up the defeat with a goalless draw against Sporting Gijon the following weekend...

The team has only a few short weeks into the new season been labeled with ‘Cristiano-Dependencia’, and considering how the team’s form has dipped in the Portuguese winger’s absence, it’s easy to understand why this has highlighted even further what the team’s weaknesses are.

If the defeat against Milan didn’t make it clear as to what the team’s weaknesses, then the 4-0 defeat to third division side Alcorcon certainly did. The defense continues to be Los Merengues’ main issue of concern but another compelling notion was the lack of interest from the players themselves. 

The embarrassing defeat even prompted sporting director Jorge Valdano and Pellegrini to make an official apology to the supporters as they had no other choice than to accept the humiliating defeat.

Despite the poor results as of lately, the team will go into Tuesday’s clash with a bit of confidence considering that Pellegrini’s shake-up in formation and player positioning during the weekend seemed to go down well with the team’s performance as they beat Getafe in the ‘little Madrid derby’ with a 2-0 scoreline as Gonzalo Higuain bagged a brace.

The media and fans have been far from easy on Pellegrini this season as they continue to refuse what the team is in need of right now; time. But then again, a team like Real Madrid isn’t given the time to adjust to things such as summer arrivals as or a new coach. Galactico 2.0 needs to win every week – and they need to do it in style. To say that the pressure on Pellegrini has been high lately is probably an understatement.

Due to obvious reasons, Ricardo Kaká will undoubtedly be the main focal point of the evening.

The Brazilian looked solid during the first half against Getafe, but question remains whether or not the midfield maestro will be able to put his emotional ties aside as he returns to his former home ground to face his old crowd for the first time since his high-profile move away from the San Siro.

Will the professional be able to keep it professional?

Probable starting XI: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Marcelo; L Diarra, Xabi Alonso; Kakà, Raul, Granero; Benzema