 | Real Madrid versus AC MilanLocation: Santiago Bernabeu (Madrid)Date: Tuesday, October 19 Time: 2:45 p.m. Eastern Records (W-D-L, +/-, Place): Real Madrid, 2-0-0, +3, 1st Milan, 2-0-0, +2, 2nd |  |
Real Madrid-Milan: UEFA Champions League Preview
Having climbed to the top of the Spanish Primera Division and still yet to lose this season, Real Madrid may be the best club in the world. Champions League, however, has been their downfall over the last eight years, and though they won the group they shared with Milan last year, the Rossoneri took four points in their head-to-head matches.
With José Mourinho guiding Los Blancos, times seem to have changed, as evidenced by their having allowed only three goals in nine all-competition matches. On Tuesday, the likes of Alexandre Pato, Ronaldinho, Robinho and former Mourinho stalwart Zlatan Ibrahimovic will try to dent Real Madrid’s defense.
Projected Lineup, Real Madrid (4-2-3-1 “stroke” 4-2-1-3): Casillas - Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo - Khedira, Alonso, Ozil - Di Maria, Higuain, Ronaldo
Projected Lineup, Milan (4-3-3 playing like a 4-3-1-2): Abbiati - Zambrotta, Nesta, Silva, Antonini - Pirlo, Gattuso, Seedorf - Ronaldinho, Pato, Ibrahimovic
Key Battle: As with the rest of the Italian managerial fraternity, Massimiliano Allegri is no fan of José Mourinho, mostly do to Mourinho questioning the then-Calgiari manager's mental stability. The two have avoided nastiness ahead of Tuesday's match, yet the bosses are still center stage. To break through Mourinho's defense, Allegri will need to bring a new level of organization to his still-gelling attack, while Mourinho is likely to set Ángel Di Maria or Cristiano Ronaldo loose on a Milan defense that could be missing Thiago Silva. The Brazilian center half is a doubt with a knee injury picked-up Saturday against Chievo.
Battle Within The Battle: If Silva can’t play, he will be the biggest miss for either team. Daniele Bonera would get the call. Real Madrid have a few recognizable names missing - Fernando Gago, Ezequiel Garay, somebody called Kaká - but no absences will have the importance of Silva’s. Milan’s going to have enough problems if their choice defense is healthy. Without Silva, they’re increasingly unlikely to replicate last year’s draw.
Prediction: Like all Real Madrid performances, expect this to be more methodical than glamorous, but with the confidence Los Blancos have exhibited in their last two matches, Milan will have to play better than they have all season to derail their hosts. Real Madrid 2, Milan 0
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