MILAN ARE THERE
11/4/2009 12:05:00 AM
In the return match against Real, Milan obtain a draw and maintain the first place in Group C of the Champions League. Ronaldinho's penalty goal answered Benzema's opening goal.
MILAN - Spectacle at San Siro. Milan showed against a more balanced and Kaká-inspired Real Madrid that they are a real time, continually growing. After Benzema's opening goal, Leonardo's men reacted with a lot of pride and never stopped playing well. Ronaldinho equalised with a penalty in the top corner of the net. A brilliant Pato more than once trouble the Merengue's defence and also scored a valid goal that was canceled by the referee. The Rossoneri thereby maintained the lead in Group C of the Champions League two matches before the end.
Ronaldinho against Kaká, the Rossoneri idol who returned home, in what was his stadium, Borriello faced a test of maturity, Pato against everyone. Milan-Real Madrid started with a lot of more or less personal duels in front of a completely full stadium. For Ricky Kaká the return to Milan represented a strong emotion, but that didn't stop him from hurting the Rossoneri defence more than once. Compared to the first leg Real appeared more balanced and determined. Higuain, preferred to Raul, Benzema, and Kaká, formed continuous triangles which often brought the "Blancos" in front of Dida.
In the 29th minute Benzema, after a shot by Kaká which was stopped by Nelson, interrupted a goalscoring abstinence which lasted six matches in the most delicate moment of the first half. After going behind Milan still continued to stay in the match. Thiago Silva successfully limited the opposing forwards' attempts. Real covered the spaces better but the Rossoneri found an equaliser in the 35th minute.
Pepe touched the ball with his arm on a cross by Zambrotta; for the referee it was a penalty: Ronaldinho hit it high into the goal with a precise shot. Milan scored again, this time through Pato, but the goal was canceled for a dubious hand foul.
In the second half it was a different Milan, Ronaldinho robbed the ball from the opponents' feet, Ambrosini was perfect in midfield, Seedorf and Pirlo ran for four. With Real you should never give up, even though the Rossoneri, compared to the first half, were more aggressive. Arbeloa continuously suffered Pato's accelerations which more than once caused trouble in front of Casillas.
In the 34th minute Inzaghi came on the pitch like a fury. The bomber immediately won a corner. Pippo opened up spaces and came close to a winner on a perfect launch by Pato. Real, with Van Nistelrooy instead of Benzema, tried with Marcelo in the 44th minute from distance. In the end it was once again Nelson Dida who saved the match with a save on a shot by Raul.