REAL MADRID v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW

AC Milan are preparing to take on Real Madrid on matchday four of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25. A match scheduled for Tuesday 5 November at 21:00 CET at the impressive Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Both teams are ready to give their all in this important stage of the competition, we get ready for kick off with our Match Preview.

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
In the Champions League, after the two losses against Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, we reacted with a convincing win against Club Brugge which got us our first points on the board. In Serie A, however, the narrow win at Monza revitalised the team and allowed for us to close the gap on the top spots. Head Coach Fonseca's side have prepared quickly for the Spanish job, the players have ready and don't need any further push or motivation for one of the most awaited fixtures of the entire season. Gabbia is still out, but there could be some changes to the back line and up front - Pulisic will probably start - just behind the ex-Madrid player Morata.

"A game like this gives you great motivation. We know that we have to take on the best to win the Champions League - said Head Coach Fonseca-  in this case the current champions: it's a chance for us to show our worth. We must be courageous, fearless on the pitch and committed to putting on a good show". 

LATEST FROM REAL MADRID
Ok against Stuttgart, surprise loss to Lille and a brilliant comeback against Borussia Dortmund: Real Madrid have already shown that they're capable of getting themselves out of some difficult moments. Ancelotti's side are formidable, in good form despite the loss at home in the El Clásico (4-0 Barcelona), last weekend, their away trip to Valencia was postponed due to the tragic flooding in the area. They have a number of strengths in the form of their home, experience and individual talent - Vinícius, Mbappé and Bellingham in attack - and collective strength are all part of the ingredients they need to be able to win it all. Courtois is absent, Rodrygo recovering.

"We are sad about the tragedy that has hit Valencia, talking about and playing football at this time is complicated. Taking on AC Milan is special - Ancelotti said-, I'm expecting a great yet difficult match. The Rossoneri haven't started well but they have great potential, we haven't done our best either but we're not far off". 

PRE-MATCH NUMBERS

• It will be Carlo Ancelotti's fifth game against AC Milan since the time that he was in charge (2001-2009), the first in Europe. The four previous times were as the Head Coach of Napoli (2018-2019), with the coach only capable of beating his previous side on one occasion (two losses, one draw): 3-2 at home in August 2018 in Serie A.

• Christian Pulisic has scored three goals in his four most recent matches for AC Milan in the Champions League, as many as he has scored in his previous 25 matches in the league. If he scores again, this season in the Champions League would already be his best ever in terms of goals (currently two).

• AC Milan, apart from the 3-2 in October 2009, have not beaten Real Madrid in the Champions League (two losses, one draw).

WHERE TO WATCH REAL MADRID v AC MILAN
In Italy, the match will be broadcast by Sky and NOW. To watch it in another country, you can check the "Where to Watch Milan on TV" section under "Abroad." On the Rossoneri channels, the Matchday show will air on Milan TV: live coverage starts at 8:00 PM leading up to kick-off, followed by interviews and Coach Fonseca's press conference. Don't miss the coverage on acmilan.com, the AC Milan Official App, official social media, and WhatsApp.

LATEST FROM CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Slavko Vinčić will be the referee. The Slovenian has only officiated a Real Madrid game on one previous occasion, but it was in last season's final (2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley), but three previous games for the Rossoneri (PSG 3-0 AC Milan in UCL 2023/24, Atlético 0-1 AC Milan in UCL 2021/22 and Manchester United 1-1 AC Milan in UEL 2020/21). Klančik and Kovačic will be the linesmen, Jug the fourth official and van Boekel on VAR with Martins AVAR.

Matchday Four will be a double game night. Tuesday at 18:45 CET PSV vs. Girona and Slovan Bratislava vs. Dinamo Zagreb, at 21.00 CET Bologna vs. Monaco, Celtic vs. RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund vs. Sturm Graz, Lille vs. Juventus, Liverpool vs. Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid vs. AC Milan and Sporting Lisbon vs. Manchester City. Wednesday at 18.45 CET Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa and Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Young Boys, at 21.00 CET Bayern Munich vs. Benfica, Feyenoord vs. RBSalisburgo, Inter-Arsenal, PSG-Atlético Madrid, Sparta Praga-Brest, Stella Rossa-Barcellona e Stoccarda-Atalanta.

Current standings: Aston Villa and Liverpool 9; Manchester City, Monaco, Brest, Bayer Leverkusen, Inter and Sporting Lisbon and Arsenal 7; Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Benfica, Juventus, Lille and Feyenoord 6; Atalanta 5; Stuttgart, PSG, Celtic, Sparta Prague and Dinamo Zagreb 4; Bayern Monaco, Girona, AC Milan, Club Brugge and Atlético Madrid 3; PSV 2; Bologna and Shakhtar Donetsk 1; RB Leipzig, Sturm Graz, Crvena Zvezda, RB Salzburg, Young Boys and Slovan Bratislava 0.

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