AC Milan shocked Real Madrid with a 3-1 victory on November 5th at the Santiago Bernabeu. The match marked the return of key players, including Brazil’s Rodrygo and Morocco’s Brahim Diaz, who were back from injuries.
Real Madrid dominated early, controlling the game until the 12th minute, when Malick Thiaw opened the scoring for Milan. Christian Pulisic’s well-placed corner found Thiaw, who rose above the defense to head it in. Real Madrid equalized in the 23rd minute after Vinicius Jr. Was fouled by Emerson in the box, earning a penalty. Vinicius confidently converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Alvaro Morata, formerly with Real Madrid, doubled AC Milan’s lead in the 39th minute. Rafael Leao’s shot was parried by Lunin, but Morata pounced on the rebound, slotting it home.
The second half saw Real Madrid struggle further as Milan extended their lead. Tijjani Reijnders scored the third goal with an assist from Leao, who had an outstanding game, constantly challenging Madrid’s defense and proving a persistent threat.
Carlo Ancelotti made several second-half substitutions but left young talents Arda Guler and Endrick on the bench, a decision that sparked debate among fans. This defeat marked Real Madrid’s second consecutive loss across competitions, during which they have conceded seven goals and scored only one – a penalty.
This was also their second UEFA Champions League defeat this season, leaving them with seven points in the group.
In the post-match press conference, Ancelotti avoided placing blame on individual players, instead emphasizing the need for collective improvement: “I don’t want to talk about individual qualities, but we’re not good collectively.” He acknowledged the poor form, saying, “We’re not playing well. If we continue like this, it will be difficult to finish the season. We must fix things, and I must find solutions to change things.”
With this victory, Milan now has six points in the group, temporarily easing the pressure on Paulo Fonseca, who has been under scrutiny with his team currently in the lower European spots in Serie A. They sit five points away from the top four and eight points off the summit.
Fonseca praised his team’s performance and acknowledged the fans, stating, “It was a magical night in Madrid—a display of character, courage, and team spirit. This is the Milan we want. Thank you to all the fans who traveled and supported us at the Bernabeu.”

By: Ibidunni Doyinsola
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