Champions League - Pato settles thriller in Madrid

Eurosport - Wed, 21 Oct 21:42:00 2009

Alexandre Pato struck late on to give Milan a 3-2 win over Real Madrid in a hugely entertaining Champions League clash at the Bernabeu.

FOOTBALL Champions League Milan's Pato celebrates with Seedorf after scoring against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu - 0

The Brazilian settled the match with his second of the night in the 88th minute as Milan roared back from a limp first half display to move level on points with Real at the top of Group C.

Real took a first-half lead through Raul before Andrea Pirlo restored parity on 62 minutes. Pato put the Rossoneri ahead just four minutes later before Royston Drenthe pulled Real back on to level terms on 76 minutes.

But Pato had the final say in a remarkable match to ensure Leonardo's side bounced back in style from their defeat to Zurich last time out.

Even in the absence of the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, there was still enough talent on show in a rainy Madrid to capture the imagination of the watching football world.

A bit of magic from Kaka, a glimpse of Ronaldinho's trickery or even a long-range shot from Xabi Alonso was expected, but ultimately the match was littered not with moments of genius and a series of goalkeeping errors.

The first three goals all stemmed from awful mistakes, one an absolute howler by Milan's Dida and two by the usually dependable Iker Casillas.

Dida was the man in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons on 19 minutes, the Milan keeper attempting to bounce the ball on the ground after he had seemingly dealt comfortably with Esteban Granero's shot, only to see the ball squirt off his knee and out towards Raul.

The Real legend needed no further invitation and he darted in to poke the ball past the unfortunate keeper before slotting into the empty net.

The goal brought up an incredible personal milestone for Raul - it was the Real skipper's 66th Champions League goal, meaning he equalled German forward Gerd Mueller's 32-year-old goalscoring record in the three main European club competitions.

Real were cruising at 1-0 up and the hosts dominated the remainder of the first half as well as the opening 15 minutes of the second.

But the game was turned on its head by two goals in the space of four mad minutes which saw Casillas try his utmost to outdo his opposite number in the gaffe stakes.

In the 62nd minute, Spain's number one failed to pick Pirlo's long-range strike on goal and was caught completely unawares as the ball flew into the bottom right hand corner.

And then, just four minutes later, Casillas charged off his line to reach a long ball through, only to realise he had ventured outside his area. A last-ditch desperate attempt to clear with his head failed, allowing Pato to run on and finish into an empty net.

Drenthe pulled Real back on to level terms on 76 minutes with the first goal of the night that could not be blamed on a goalkeeping error. Indeed, it was a fine strike from the substitute, who rifled the ball past Dida, who this time could do nothing.

Milan then thought they had found a winner in the 86th minute when Thiago Silva rose majestically to nod home from a corner, only for referee Frank De Bleeckere to disallow the 'goal' for an infringement.

It was not the first time the Belgian official had made a contentious decision. Real should already have been in front even before Dida's initial comedy turn, but De Bleeckere waved away strong penalty claims when Gianluca Zambrotta hacked Karim Benzema to the floor in the Milan box on 14 minutes.

Four goals and two contentious decisions, but the drama was not over and there was to be a final twist to the tale as Pato took full advantage of some slack Real defending to volley home Clarence Seedorf's clipped ball through and cap a memorable game between two of European football's genuine heavyweights.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 70 - 89 of 89

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  1. And what happens when you guys loose with Ronaldo on­ the pitch? Oh ya, won't happen, he's always got­ one good dive in him per game

    From jumaford, on Thu 22 Oct 10:22PM

  2. FoeyP Madrid have 3 CL titles in the last 10 years...­ please don't embarrass yourself speaking BS

    From i am a teacup, on Thu 22 Oct 3:51PM

  3. samiman courier no team has any player over 40 in their­ team you dumb fucc

    From i am a teacup, on Thu 22 Oct 3:48PM

  4. Casillas what a Cra.ppy Goalkeeper you are !!!!
    Retire­ now Buffon !!!
    You are a total Use.less Pr.ick !!!

    From AndJustice4All, on Thu 22 Oct 2:07PM

  5. I TINK REAL SHD BUILD DIR DEFENCE VERY WELL.

    From hotterboy4real, on Thu 22 Oct 1:20PM

  6. Pelliagrini will be sack even b/4 elclasico game.

    From samimancourier, on Thu 22 Oct 11:52AM

  7. A team that has the oldest players in the world[45,47­ and 49 years
    that are struggling in Seria A could­ inflicted a defeat on the so call
    galacticos in Bamboo­ stadium. What a pity. hahahahahahahahahahahah

    From samimancourier, on Thu 22 Oct 11:51AM

  8. lmao
    how come its the worst milan of the century
    they­ won their last match against AS roma
    last season milan­ didn't even participate in CL and were kicked out­ of uefa,,,so this is not the worst mila
    or its you who­ don't know milan and real madrid
    that they are the­ best two clubs in e'pean football or maybe you­ don't know futbal at all.

    From getachew44, on Thu 22 Oct 11:38AM

  9. I can bet that Real will have a new couch before el­ clasico - they will lose on Saturday as­ well....hahahaha.

    From dveselin73, on Thu 22 Oct 11:31AM

  10. Gatechew44 could not sleep throughout the night.
    He was­ crying through out kicking and fuming on Kaka,Casila­ and perez.
    Im happy.so happy to know he is thinking­ about how he will got bash today.
    Remember these Milan­ team is the worst Milan team of the century.

    From samimancourier, on Thu 22 Oct 11:28AM

  11. ohhhhhhhh
    since i'm saying the facts
    the goal­ milan score and was refuse is right decision from the­ ref
    see it clearly on reply
    i thought just like you it­ was wrong decision from ref but there was a push on­ raul
    after that there was another goal refused to­ madrid for offside by raul
    see the facts are easy and­ simple
    just leave your feeling and use your brain

    From getachew44, on Thu 22 Oct 11:17AM

  12. FoeyP you are spot on!!!

    From delazzuro, on Thu 22 Oct 11:13AM

  13. calm down ppl
    take it easy
    why ppl hate­ me????????
    i'm not against any_1 i'm just­ putting the facts out
    i know some facts are­ painful,,,,remaimber that truth hurts but lie kill,,,so­ its simple say the facts with its pain
    and the fact say­ that barca, liverpool, inter, bayern and juve all are­ strugling
    how come all talk only about real­ madrid?
    simple and easy answer
    choose what you want
    1­ jeoleusy 2 envy and 3 scared

    From getachew44, on Thu 22 Oct 11:10AM

  14. #79.. i only see Pato, no kaka..
    kah kah kah

    ok have a­ nice day u guys.. signing off

    From gorka, on Thu 22 Oct 11:01AM

  15. lose is a lose.. its not that losing to Rubin Kazan­ Barca lost 4 or 6 points while real lose to MIlan u­ only lost 3 points..
    haha madrid

    From gorka, on Thu 22 Oct 10:59AM

  16. @ #74 and #75, you wonder why people get happy when­ madrid loses, I wonder why your dad did not use a­ condom on your mother, so you would not be here, and we­ would not be listening you your idiotic comments.

    From Money Does Not Buy Success, on Thu 22 Oct 10:58AM

  17. That was a very good football game...and the best are­ winning...
    Ac Milan is very good...For ever Pato:D

    From Szabo, on Thu 22 Oct 10:58AM

  18. @ #74 getachew44, you are a dixk, just like the rest of­ the madrid fans, you people always come with excuses.­ Why don't you talk about the Milan third goal that­ was dissalowed for no reason at all???? Why don't­ you talk about that. And for your information. Madrid­ should have won easily, becuse they spended 300m euros­ on players, and took kaka from Milan, and still were­ outplayed by Milan all over the pitch. Where was­ kaka???? He should have played his heart out, to show­ Milan what they are missing, but instead he made Milan­ feel better of seling him.

    From Money Does Not Buy Success, on Thu 22 Oct 10:56AM

  19. getachew44, Now you know that no team is immortal.
    I am­ happy to have drawn you out from your hiding­ place.
    hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

    From samimancourier, on Thu 22 Oct 10:52AM

  20. how's the feelings after the loss??? haha.. shame­ on billions... i love to remind people that "STARS­ DON'T MAKE THE TEAM STRONGER".. REAL MADRID??­ LIVERPOOL??

    From Ben, on Thu 22 Oct 10:50AM
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