R Madrid 2 - 3 Milan
Raul 18 (R), Pirlo 62 (M), Pato 67, 88 (M), Drenthe 76 (R)
Bernabeu, Madrid
Alexandre Pato's brace saw Milan conquer the Bernabeu 3-2 in a spectacular match filled with goalkeeping disasters!
There were 16 editions of this trophy shared between the most successful clubs in the history of the competition. The Rossoneri were in poor shape after a 1-0 home defeat to FC Zurich, but went on the attack with the trident of Ronaldinho, Alexandre Pato and Pippo Inzaghi. Nelson Dida started, as both Christian Abbiati and Marco Storari were sidelined along with Gennaro Gattuso.
Real also missed Cristiano Ronaldo, Guti, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Christoph Metzelder and Fernando Gago, but Kaka faced the club he left in the summer after six years.
Alessandro Nesta charged down a Karim Benzema effort and Madrid wanted a penalty on 14 minutes for Gianluca Zambrotta's risky challenge on Benzema, but the referee awarded a goal-kick. It was an extremely lucky decision for Milan, as he did not seem to get the ball.
Albiol intercepted a Clarence Seedorf cross with Inzaghi waiting in the centre.
Dida was effectively third choice goalkeeper for Milan this season and showed exactly why, giving Raul the opener. It was a classic howler, as he caught a weak Esteban Granero shot from distance and was bouncing the ball on the ground when he fumbled it, allowing Raul to tap into an empty net.
It was Raul's 68th European goal, only one behind Gerd Muller and Inzaghi. SuperPippo was incorrectly flagged offside when sliding to meet a Seedorf cross, but didn't get decent contact on it anyway.
Milan had a promising counter wasted by Ronaldinho firing straight at Sergio Ramos. The Real man asked for a penalty when his cross struck Zambrotta's elbow, but he was clearly protecting his face.
Marcelo dribbled past a couple of players to force a punch save out of Dida, while Lassana Diarra blasted over.
After the break Kaka embraced Leonardo, the man who talent scouted him for Milan over six years ago. The Brazilian forced a fine save out of Dida with his angled drive at the near post that was flashing towards the far corner.
Dida also tipped a Benzema long-range effort over, while Raul fired wide. Raul threatened again on 54 minutes when he sprinted away from Alessandro Nesta on an Iker Casillas goal kick, but opted for a weak lob that Dida comfortably gathered.
Ronaldinho horribly wasted a good move from Pato and Inzaghi was replaced by Marco Borriello.
Milan were pushing a bit harder in the second half and equalised with the aid of another goalkeeping howler, this time from Casillas. Andrea Pirlo was 30 metres out and hit it like a free kick, dipping mercilessly towards the near post, taking Casillas by surprise. It was the first time the Real shot-stopper was really called into action and he was distracted on Pirlo's first Champions League goal in two years.
Real seemed in shock and Zambrotta flashed a daisy-cutter inches past the far post.
Incredibly, Milan turned it all around five minutes later! Pato sprung the offside trap on a Massimo Ambrosini pass over the top, Casillas came tearing outside the box and tried to palm it off his foot, but realised he'd be sent off if he did, so pulled his hand back. This allowed Pato to go clear and deposit into an empty net!
A Xabi Alonso free kick was charged down and Kaka turned wide, but Dida wanted to even the scores in howlers with Casillas. Real equalised when a corner came out to substitute Royston Drenthe, whose daisy-cutter slipped past Dida at the base of the near post. It was not a very powerful shot and the goalkeeper should've been quicker to react.
Seedorf could've made it 3-2 moments later with the first real Ronaldinho spark, fine work down the left and a cross with the outside of his right foot, but Seedorf ballooned it over.
Dinho had been dismal, but seemed to wake up in the final 15 minutes. However, Dida fumbled another Kaka effort and Raul tapped in, but he was clearly offside.
Absolutely anything could happen in this game and Casillas used his legs to parry a Pato strike. From the resulting corner Thiago Silva nodded in at the near post, but the referee disallowed it for a push on the goalkeeper, sparking a furious series of scuffles. Milan had every reason to be angry, as replays show Casillas crashed into Sergio Ramos and made absolutely no contact with Thiago Silva. Nesta, Raul and Ronaldinho were all booked for their part in the row.
It was only a warning, as moments later Pato scored! No howlers this time, as Seedorf chipped the ball over the defence to an unmarked Pato for a spectacular volley at the back post!
It still wasn't over, as Dida palmed a Xabi Alonso strike wide, but the final whistle blew with Milan's first ever victory away to Madrid!
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Real Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Marcelo; L Diarra, Xabi Alonso; Kaką, Raul, Granero (Drenthe 68); Benzema
Milan: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf; Pato, Ronaldinho (Flamini 91), Inzaghi (Borriello 60)
Ref: De Bleeckere (Bel)
