Football

Real Madrid's Champions League woes continued on Tuesday as they suffered a humiliating 3-1 home defeat to AC Milan. The loss marked Madrid's second in four matches and left them languishing in the middle of the table.Kylian Mbappe, who has struggled to find his best form since joining from Paris Saint-Germain, failed to score again and has now netted just once in his last six matches for Madrid. The French striker was denied by Mike Maignan in the first half and again before halftime.Milan took the lead in the 12th minute through Malick Thiaw's header from a corner. Vinicius Junior equalized from the penalty spot after being fouled by Emerson Royal, but Alvaro Morata restored Milan's lead before the break.Tijjani Reijnders sealed the victory for Milan in the second half, finishing off a superb solo run by Rafael Leao. Madrid's hopes of a comeback were dashed when Antonio Rudiger's goal was ruled offside.Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted that his team is "not giving a good account of itself" and called for improvements in compactness and organization. "We have to be worried," he said. "The team's not giving a good account of itself."Milan coach Paulo Fonseca praised his team's bravery and work rate. "The players came here with courage, didn't have any fear... in the first half we created plenty and in the second half we were on the back foot, but we fought together," he said.Madrid's next Champions League match is at Anfield against Liverpool, by when Ancelotti will hope to have solved some of his team's growing problems.

Real Madrid, the reigning UEFA Champions League champions, will face off against AC Milan at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, in a highly anticipated Group Stage match.Real Madrid, led by the prolific Kylian Mbappe, has had a mixed start to their Champions League campaign, securing victories against VFB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund but suffering a disappointing loss to Lille. The Spanish giants will be eager to bounce back and assert their dominance in the competition.AC Milan, on the other hand, has endured a challenging start to their European campaign, with just one win from their first three matches. The Italian giants will be determined to turn their fortunes around and secure a positive result against Real Madrid.The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of Europe's most storied clubs. Real Madrid will rely on the brilliance of Mbappe, Karim Benzema, and Luka Modric, while AC Milan will look to the likes of Rafael Leao, Olivier Giroud, and Sandro Tonali to inspire them to victory.The match will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network in India, with live streaming available on the Sony Liv app and website. Fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating this clash of titans, as Real Madrid and AC Milan battle for supremacy in the UEFA Champions League.

Napoli extended their dominance at the summit of Serie A with a commanding 2-0 victory over AC Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday. The triumph propelled Napoli to a seven-point lead over their rivals, solidifying their position as the league's frontrunners.Antonio Conte's resurgent Napoli side wasted no time in asserting their authority, with Romelu Lukaku opening the scoring within five minutes. The Belgian striker capitalized on a pass from Frank Anguissa, outmuscling a defender before coolly slotting the ball past Mike Maignan in the AC Milan goal.Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret was called into action twice before the half-hour mark, making crucial saves to preserve his side's advantage. As the clock ticked down to half-time, Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled the visitors' lead with a sensational strike.Picking up the ball on the left wing, Kvaratskhelia drove inside on his right foot, evading Youssouf Fofana before unleashing a powerful shot from distance that flew into the far post beyond the reach of Maignan.AC Milan thought they had found a lifeline two minutes after the break when Alvaro Morata headed home. However, VAR intervened, ruling the goal offside in the build-up. The hosts continued to search for a way back into the encounter, but Napoli's defense held firm, with Meret making a fine reflex save to deny Rafael Leao in the 83rd minute.Elsewhere in Serie A, Bologna climbed to 10th in the table with a 2-0 win at Cagliari, thanks to goals from Riccardo Orsolini and Jens Odgaard. Lecce moved off the foot of the table by beating nine-man Verona 1-0, with Patrick Dorgu scoring the only goal of the game.

AC Milan's Champions League campaign got off to a winning start as Tijjani Reijnders' brace secured a 3-1 victory over 10-man Club Brugge at the San Siro.Reijnders opened the scoring in the 61st minute with a composed finish, before doubling Milan's lead ten minutes later with another clinical strike. The Netherlands midfielder's goals proved decisive after Brugge had equalized Christian Pulisic's early opener through Kyriani Sabbe.Brugge's hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow when Raphael Onyedika was sent off for a reckless challenge on Reijnders in the 40th minute. Milan took advantage of their numerical superiority, with Reijnders' goals putting them in control.The Rossoneri's victory was almost overshadowed by a stunning header from 16-year-old Francesco Camarda, who became the youngest ever goalscorer in Champions League history. However, his goal was ruled out for offside, much to the disappointment of the youngster and the Milan faithful."His goal being disallowed was disappointing for him. He and the team deserved that moment," said Milan manager Paulo Fonseca. "He deserves to be in the squad, he's worked very hard to be here. He'll score plenty of goals in the future, today was just the beginning."The win was crucial for Milan, who face a daunting trip to Real Madrid in their next Champions League fixture. Anything less than three points at the San Siro could have put their qualification for the knockout phase in jeopardy.However, the match was played in front of a subdued crowd as Milan's hardcore ultras continued their protest against high ticket prices. The cheapest general sale tickets for Milan's upcoming domestic fixture against Juventus are priced at 100 euros, with the highest at 479 euros.The major supporters club AIMC has criticized the club's ticketing policy, claiming it favors "rich foreign tourists or casual fans." Only 58,649 people attended Tuesday's match, significantly lower than the usual attendance of over 70,000 for Milan and Inter's Serie A matches."We're not cows to be milked, we're not just here to fill the stadium for the lesser matches, we're not just here to fill the club museum or San Siro's car parks with 120 coaches every time we play at home," said AIMC in a statement.Fans will be watching with interest the latest developments in the joint effort with Inter Milan to build a new stadium near the current San Siro. One of the criticisms of the previous project, which was abandoned last year, was a drastic reduction in capacity and an increase in high-priced hospitality seating.

AC Milan's resilience was tested to the limit as they overcame a numerical disadvantage to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Udinese at the San Siro. The win propelled Milan to within two points of Serie A leaders Napoli, while Udinese remained in third place with 14 points.Milan's triumph was marred by the early dismissal of Tijjani Reijnders in the 29th minute for a reckless foul on Sandi Lovric. Despite the setback, Samuel Chukwueze's 13th-minute strike proved to be the decisive moment.Milan's task became even more daunting as Tammy Abraham missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead with 15 minutes remaining. However, the hosts' resolve was unwavering, and they held on for a crucial victory.Udinese thought they had snatched a late equalizer in stoppage time through Christian Kabasele, but VAR intervened to rule out the goal for offside. The decision sparked jubilation among the Milan faithful, who had endured a tense and emotional match.The victory was overshadowed by the absence of Milan's "ultras" supporters, who staged a silent protest against perceived persecution by law enforcement and the Italian media. The ultras' banners and flags were replaced by a message of support for their arrested allies.Meanwhile, Juventus have the opportunity to join Napoli at the summit of Serie A with a win over Lazio later on Saturday. However, Thiago Motta's side has been hampered by a string of injuries.

Christian Pulisic Rested by US National Team Ahead of Mexico FriendlyChristian Pulisic, the star striker for AC Milan and the United States national team, has been rested ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Mexico in Guadalajara. The decision was announced by US Soccer on Sunday, citing the need to manage Pulisic's workload after a busy period for both club and country.Pulisic played a pivotal role in the United States' 2-0 victory over Panama on Saturday in Austin, Texas. He set up the first American goal, marking a successful debut for new coach Mauricio Pochettino. However, the 26-year-old winger has accumulated a significant number of minutes in recent weeks, prompting the decision to release him back to AC Milan.In addition to Pulisic, four other players have been sent back to their clubs due to minor injuries. Marlon Fossey, Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, and Zack Steffen will undergo evaluation and treatment before rejoining the national team."As we have said, we are always going to make decisions that are in the best interest of our players and respect the relationship we have with their clubs," said Pochettino.The United States will not add any additional players to their roster before Tuesday's match against Mexico. The rivalry between the two nations is one of the most intense in international soccer, and the friendly is expected to draw a large crowd in Guadalajara.Pulisic's absence will be a blow to the United States, but Pochettino has a number of talented players at his disposal. The team will be looking to build on their victory over Panama and continue their preparations for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup tournaments.

AC Milan's star signing Alvaro Morata has been forced to relocate after the mayor of his chosen residence, Corbetta, publicly announced his arrival on social media. The incident has sparked a heated exchange between the footballer and the mayor, highlighting concerns over privacy and the responsible use of social media.Morata, who recently joined AC Milan from Atletico Madrid, had chosen Corbetta as his family's new home. However, his privacy was compromised when Mayor Marco Ballarini posted a welcoming message on Instagram, revealing his arrival to the town's 17,000 residents.The 31-year-old striker expressed his anger on social media, accusing the mayor of violating his privacy and endangering his children's safety. He emphasized that he had hoped for privacy in Corbetta but was now forced to move due to the mayor's actions.The mayor responded with a dismissive "Ciao, ciao" message, accompanied by the badge and colors of Inter Milan, AC Milan's arch-rivals. This further fueled Morata's frustration, who has since been forced to find a new residence.The incident has raised questions about the appropriate use of social media by public officials and the importance of respecting individuals' privacy. Morata's concerns are particularly relevant given his high profile and the potential risks to his family's safety.On the pitch, Morata has made a solid start to his AC Milan career, scoring two goals in four league matches. However, he is yet to secure a starting spot under coach Paulo Fonseca. AC Milan currently sit third in Serie A, level on points with fourth-placed Inter Milan.

Bayer Leverkusen's impressive start to the Champions League continued on Tuesday as they defeated AC Milan 1-0 at home. The German side displayed attacking flair and defensive resilience to secure their second victory in the competition.The decisive moment came early in the second half when Victor Boniface pounced on a rebound to give Leverkusen the lead. The Nigerian striker had earlier been denied a goal by VAR for offside.Leverkusen dominated the first half, with Florian Wirtz orchestrating their attacks and Boniface causing problems for the Milan defense. However, they were unable to find a breakthrough before the interval.After the break, Leverkusen's pressure paid off when Boniface converted from close range after Maignan parried Frimpong's shot. The goal sparked Milan into life, but they were unable to find an equalizer despite creating several chances.Theo Hernandez's deflected shot bounced off the bar and Alvaro Morata's header went wide in the closing stages. Leverkusen also had opportunities to extend their lead, with Nathan Tella coming close in injury time.The victory extends Leverkusen's unbeaten run in the Champions League to two matches, while Milan have now lost both of their opening games.

Bayer Leverkusen's star midfielder Florian Wirtz is set to make his home debut in the Champions League on Tuesday against seven-time champions AC Milan. The 21-year-old German international is widely regarded as one of the most promising young players in Europe and will be crucial to Leverkusen's hopes of success in the competition.Wirtz missed Leverkusen's last Champions League campaign due to an ACL injury, but he has returned to the team in impressive form this season. He has scored four goals in five Bundesliga games and is the team's designated penalty taker.Wirtz is known for his creativity and goal threat, but he is also a hard worker and a team player. Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has praised Wirtz's ability to unlock defenses and create chances for his teammates."Flo is a special player," Alonso said. "He has the vision, the technique, and the intelligence to be one of the best midfielders in the world. We need to give him the freedom to express himself and create."Wirtz will be a key target for Milan on Tuesday, but he will be confident of making an impact. He scored a first-half double in Leverkusen's 4-0 win over Feyenoord in their Champions League opener and will be looking to add to his tally against the Italian giants.If Wirtz can continue to perform at a high level, he will be a major asset to Leverkusen in the Champions League and beyond. He is a player with the potential to become one of the best in the world, and Leverkusen will be hoping that he can help them achieve success in Europe.