A double from Alex Pato saw AC Milan win the battle of the European giants on Wednesday as they beat Real Madrid 3-2 in the Bernabeu for a crucial victory in their Champions League campaign.
Milan’s victory saw them draw level with Real in Group C.
Both English clubs preserved their perfect records, with Manchester United beating CSKA Moscow 1-0 in Moscow at the scene of where they beat Chelsea in the final last year.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Antonio Valencia’s goal not only gave them their first ever European win over Russian opposition but also equaled Dutch giants Ajax’s Champions League record of 14 successive matches unbeaten away from home.
Chelsea had a much easier time trouncing a sorry Atletico Madrid side 4-0 with Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou scoring a double and Frank Lampard getting another.
It was his first since August, but more importantly was his 133rd for the club, pushing him one ahead of legend Jimmy Greaves in terms of all-time scorer for the London side.
PHOTO: AFP
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said he was pleased in the manner his side had responded to last weekend’s defeat by Aston Villa.
“We had a very good reaction and played very well,” Ancelotti said. “We played well for 90 minutes without problems. I am happy. We are top of the group and this is what we want.”
For his Atletico counterpart, Abel Serino, there was little consolation as his future looks even less favorable with just one win in 10 matches — but he remained defiant.
“I am a fighter. I am not going to throw the towel in. With one result the confidence will begin to change,” Serino said.
Valencia’s first Champions League goal for United was enough to garner them the three points and move alongside Ajax, leaving manager Sir Alex Ferguson purring at the feat.
“We should be proud of it,” said Ferguson, who was returning to the ground where United beat Chelsea on penalties in last year’s final.
“I think we have reached this mark because of our maturity and how we approach these matches,” he said. “There is a way of playing away from home in these European games and we have that.”
Real coach Manuel Pellegrini gracefully played down the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo as a reason for the defeat to Milan.
“We had the game under control and it all changed suddenly in a few minutes,” Pellegrini said. “We need our best players and Cristiano is one of them but we didn’t lose because he wasn’t playing. We lost because we made defensive mistakes and got punished by an experienced Milan team.”
For Milan coach Leonardo it was a welcome change in what has been a tough season thus far.
“Of course I am really happy,” the former Brazilian international midfielder said. “It is highly satisfying for me to find solutions for the way we are playing on the pitch.”
The Bayern versus Bordeaux clash in Group A was also a thriller that saw the French side come out 2-1 winners — whilst missing two penalties — and Bayern reduced to nine men.
Victory saw Bordeaux go sole top of the Group, two points clear of Juventus, who recorded their first victory of the campaign with a scrappy 1-0 home win over Maccabi Haifa.
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