The UEFA Champions League brings a blockbuster matchup as Real Madrid hosts AC Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu. This clash unites two of Europe’s most storied clubs, with Real Madrid holding a record 15 titles and Milan boasting seven, second only to Los Blancos in European history.
Real Madrid enters the fixture aiming to bounce back after a shocking 4-0 El Clasico defeat to Barcelona. Their last Champions League game saw them overturn a 2-0 halftime deficit against Borussia Dortmund, sealing a thrilling 5-2 win thanks to Vinicius Junior’s hat-trick. Following the postponement of their match against Valencia due to flash floods, Madrid is set to return with fresh legs, an advantage over Milan, who fought hard for a narrow 1-0 Serie A win over Monza.
Real Madrid’s Campaign So Far
Despite moments of brilliance, Real Madrid’s season has been mixed, with emphatic wins against Dortmund and Stuttgart offset by a surprise 1-0 defeat in Lille. They’ve been dominant at home, winning all seven home matches this season and scoring multiple goals in each. Historically, Madrid has a strong record against Milan at the Bernabeu and Italian teams overall, winning 17 of their last 18 European games against Serie A clubs.
AC Milan’s Struggles
Milan’s European journey under Paulo Fonseca has been challenging. After opening losses to Leverkusen and Liverpool, they claimed a 3-1 win over Club Brugge but face an uphill battle in Madrid. Milan’s track record in Spain is grim, with only five wins from 38 trips, and they’ve struggled for goals on the road, scoring in just one of their last five European away matches.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid is without captain Dani Carvajal (ACL injury), David Alaba, and potentially Thibaut Courtois, with Andriy Lunin likely to start. Milan will miss key players Ismael Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi, Matteo Gabbia, and Luka Jovic. Rafael Leao is expected to return to the starting lineup.
Projected Lineups
– Real Madrid (4-3-1-2):Lunin; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Modric; Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe.
– Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Fofana; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Morata.
Match Prediction
Milan may consider a draw a success, but given their recent performances, Real Madrid appears poised to claim a comfortable victory.
Prediction: Real Madrid to Win
