The UEFA Champions League is set to deliver an exciting face-off as Real Madrid welcomes AC Milan to the Santiago Bernabeu. This encounter brings together two of Europe’s most decorated clubs, with Real Madrid holding an unmatched 15 titles, while Milan stands second with seven Champions League trophies.
Real Madrid enters this fixture looking to rebound after a surprising 4-0 loss to Barcelona in El Clasico. In their previous Champions League outing, Madrid staged a remarkable comeback against Borussia Dortmund, turning a 2-0 halftime deficit into a 5-2 victory, with Vinicius Junior securing a hat-trick. After a league match postponement due to flash floods, Madrid heads into this game with fresher legs, an advantage over Milan, who recently secured a hard-fought 1-0 Serie A win against Monza.
### Real Madrid’s Season So Far
Real Madrid's campaign has been mixed, marked by impressive wins over Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart, but also a surprising 1-0 loss to Lille. At home, however, they’ve been near-unstoppable, winning all seven matches and showcasing their goal-scoring power. Historically, Madrid has performed well against Milan at the Bernabeu and boasts a strong record against Serie A clubs in European play, with 17 wins in their last 18 encounters.
### AC Milan’s European Challenge
Milan, managed by Paulo Fonseca, has struggled in Europe this season. After losses to Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool, they managed a 3-1 win over Club Brugge but face an uphill task in Madrid. Their record in Spain is tough, with only five wins out of 38 matches, and they’ve faced challenges scoring on the road, finding the net just once in their last five away games in European competition.
### Team News and Expected Lineups
For Real Madrid, captain Dani Carvajal is out with an ACL injury, while David Alaba and possibly Thibaut Courtois may also be sidelined, leaving Andriy Lunin likely to start in goal. Milan, on the other hand, will be without key players Ismael Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi, Matteo Gabbia, and Luka Jovic. However, star forward Rafael Leao is expected to return to the lineup.
#### Predicted Lineups:
- **Real Madrid (4-3-1-2):** Lunin; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Modric; Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe.
- **AC Milan (4-2-3-1):** Maignan; Emerson, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Fofana; Pulisic, Reijnders, Leao; Morata.
### Match Prediction
While AC Milan would likely consider a draw a positive result, Real Madrid’s form and home advantage suggest they could secure a solid win.