<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Real Madrid show their class as two goals in a minute from Ronaldo and Ozil paved way for a comfortable victory for Los Galacticos. </strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Much has been said about Real Madrid’s inability to win crucial games against big European clubs in the Champions League. It was time to put <em>Los Galacticos</em> to that old litmus test again as the Spanish club hosted 7 time European champions AC Milan in the biggest clash of this season thus far.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Jose Mourinho was under immense pressure to deliver, especially after what <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU8iKWFcux0&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">transpired last year</a> when these two clubs had met at the <em>Santiago Bernabeu</em>. Milan had come from being a goal down to ultimately win 3-2. Mourinho would have to come up with a master plan to topple Milan with the youngsters at his disposal. Expectations were high in Italy too, as Berlusconi’s club eagerly looked forward to unleashing the might of their deadly upfront triumvirate of Ibrahimovic-Ronaldinho-Pato.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" title="Real Madrid's coach Mourinho gestures during their Champions League soccer match in Madrid" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9786830/real-madrid-coach-mourinho/real-madrid-coach-mourinho.jpg?size=500&imageId=9786830" border="0" alt="Real Madrid's coach Jose Mourinho gestures during their Champions League Group G soccer match against Ajax at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, September 15, 2010. REUTERS/Andrea Comas (SPAIN - Tags: SPORT SOCCER)" width="300" height="400" /><em>Got his tactics spot on</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">At the end of the clash, however, Madrid had thoroughly dismantled a Milan side devoid of any potency, winning comfortably by a margin of 2-0.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Outplayed is an Understatement </span></span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">In retrospect, what happened in Madrid was not very surprising considering the way the two teams lined-up. The Rossoneri’s forward line was to be its chief strength, while the “real” (pun intended) gulf in talent between the two sides would lie in the midfield and at the back.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Even for your average pundit, predicting the result would not have been too hard, once Milan started with Seedorf, alongside relative veterans Pirlo and Gattuso. Madrid on the other hand had the likes of Ozil, Khedira, Di Maria and Ronaldo all in the prime. Throughout their season, the Rossoneri have struggled to deal with even pedestrian outfits breaking through their midfield ranks. Choosing to field a similar formation against quite possibly the best team in the world, the Rossoneri had no one but themselves to blame.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Jose’s men started the more threatening of the two sides and it paid dividends in the 13<sup>th</sup> minute when Pato challenged Xabi Alonso just outside the box. It didn’t exactly look ominous for the Italian side as Ronaldo came up to take the free kick, considering his recent penchant to hit the wall a good 8 times out of 10.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" title="SOCCER 2010 - Standard Liege vs Real Madrid 1-1" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9564759/soccer-2010-standard-liege/soccer-2010-standard-liege.jpg?size=500&imageId=9564759" border="0" alt="Aug 17, 2010 - Liege, Belgium - CRISTIANO RONALDO (Real) during the football match. Standard Liege tied Real Madrid, 1-1 at Dufrasne Stadium." width="300" height="400" /><em>Involved in both goals</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">It was on target, yet again to hit the wall but somehow this time around the result would be different. Ronaldo miraculously found space between Ibrahimovic and Seedorf taking evasive action and a flailing Amelia came nowhere close to saving the ball. Even before Milan could shake off the effects of that goal, they were dealt another shocker.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">In the very next minute, Ronaldo again found space on the left and flicked the ball to Ozil who decided to smash the ball right into the ground. It turned out to be a good decision, despite having to deal with three Milan defenders were guarding the goal. The ball looped up and caught Bonera unaware, took a big deflection and doubled Madrid’s advantage even before the aged Rossoneri even realized what was happening.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong> </strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong> </strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Hoping against Hope</span></span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Being 2-0 down, Milan would have hoped to come back sooner than later and in the 29<sup>th</sup> minute they almost did. Pirlo made Cassilas stretch to keep out an awesome 20 yard free kick. Ronaldinho was clearly not at his best but did have the foresight to create something out of nothing. He found Seedorf unmarked in the 36<sup>th</sup> minute and chipped a delightful ball across the box. Seedorf, however, could not maintain his balance and sent the ball on its way over the bar.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Ibrahimovic and Pato looked helpless for the most part and Pirlo received little support from Rino and Seedorf. Madrid, meanwhile, were in no mood to rest on their laurels and continued to push forward with waves of attacks led by Ronaldo, Ozil and Di Maria.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Nesta was easily undone by the silver-footed De Maria and had troubles dealing with the impressive Ozil. The absence of Thiago Silva did not help Milan’s defensive department either. On a luckier day Madrid may easily have scored half-a-dozen goals. Such was the intensity and flair on display by the Galacticos that Milan gave up fighting for the ball outside their own box. Max Allegri had conceded the tactical battle to his counterpart, without even an attempt.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong> </strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Tactical Blunders Haunt Again </span></span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">This Clash of the Titans was Allegri’s biggest match with Milan so far and yet the preparation betrayed an unforgivable sense of complacency. Allegri decided to start with his aging stars against Chievo earlier this week, with all indications pointing to the rested Boateng being selected for the clash with Madrid. That was not to be, as the Rossoneri’s aging legs took the field yet again; coupled with a lack of rest, Milan were lucky not to have been mauled even worse by the Spanish giants.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" title="Sports News - January 12, 2009" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/3525185/sports-news-january-2009/sports-news-january-2009.jpg?size=380&imageId=3525185" border="0" alt="04212679 date 11 01 2009 Copyright imago Gribaudi Alexandre Pato centre Ronaldinho right and Clarence Seedorf all AC Milan goal celebration PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxITA premiumd Vdig horizontal cheering goal celebration Series A 2008 2009 1 Italian League AC Milan Rome happiness Football men Team Italy Group photo optimistic Action shot Human Beings Photo via Newscom" width="380" height="253" /><em>Trio could not break a sound Madrid defence</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Boateng, who had impressed against Chievo as a substitute, made a massive difference after being brought on at Bernabeu as well. It’s conceivable that had Boateng started the game, Milan may well have achieved a better result.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Ibrahimovic’s struggle with stomach cramps took its toll on the lanky striker, and the decision to leave Robinho for so late in the game backfired terribly. He had the best shot on goal in the second half and taking off Ronaldinho for his fellow countryman would not have hurt in the least.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong> </strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">TheHardTackle’s Player of the Match</span></span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Cristiano Ronaldo( Real Madrid)</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">It was a great display of attacking football at the Bernabeu and the relatively young Madrid side was led admirably by Ronaldo. He was relentless in hammering Milan and they found it hard to deal with the Portuguese livewire. He scored the first goal courtesy a free kick and provided the assist to Ozil for Madrid’s second.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">TEAMS</span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Real Madrid AC Milan</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Iker Casillas Marco Amelia</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Ricardo Carvalho Daniele Bonera</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Pepe Alessandro Nesta</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Marcelo Luca Antonini</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Álvaro Arbeloa Gianluca Zambrotta</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Sami Khedira Andrea Pirlo</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Xabi Alonso Clarence Seedorf</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Gonzalo Higuaín(Benzema ’89) Gennaro Gattuso(Boateng ’59)</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mesut Ozil(Diarra ’83) Ronaldinho(Robinho ’72)</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Cristiano Ronaldo Zlatan Ibrahimovic</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Ángel Di María(Granero ’87) Pato(Inzaghi ’78)</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Scorers:</span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Cristiano Ronaldo (‘13) <strong> </strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mesut Ozil (‘14)</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cautions:</span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Ángel Di María (81), Daniele Bonera (73), Kevin-Prince Boateng (76), Luca Antonini (80)</p> <script src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js" type="text/javascript"></script>