Matchday four in the opening phase of this year's Champions League ended in defeat to Milan. The Italian outfit went ahead inside 12 minutes, when Thiaw rose to powerfully head home Pulisic's corner. Our team hit back with a double opportunity for Mbappé and Vini Jr. a minute later, but Maignan kept them both out. The Brazilian was at the heart of the action again for the leveller, when he was upended by Emerson in the box with 22 minutes player. Vini Jr. stepped up himself to convert from the spot, notching his fourth goal of the Champions League campaign so far.

The game got underway at an impressive pace, with both teams threatening the other's box. With just over half an hour gone, Reijnders let one fly from the edge of the box, only to be kept out by Lunin's diving stop. Our goalkeeper could do nothing about the goal that would make it 1-2 with 38 minutes on the clock, though. Leão got a shot off on the half-turn and Lunin did superbly once more to block thte shot, only for the ball to fall at the feet of Morata, who turned it into the back of the net. The scores would remain the same going into half-time, although Real Madrid did have a chance to level on 44’. Militão sent a ball in behind for Mbappé, who sprinted from inside his own half to go through one-on-one with Maignan, who saved the visitors once more.

Chances
The second half began with another Lunin wonder save, this time keeping out Leão's fantastic header on 52’. Both teams were getting into dangerous areas with ease, but the defenders were consistently exhibiting some great last-ditch blocks. Mbappé then had two fine chances to get on the scoresheet. Modrić stole the ball back with 63 minutes played a lovely ball through the lines to the Frenchman, only for his effort to fly wide of the target. Seconds later, Vini Jr. sent the ball across with the outside of his boot, and the forward was off balance as he shot over the crossbar. Milan had another chance to score from a Pulisic corner on 69’, as Morata got the tiniest of touches on the ball, turning onto the outside of the post.

Rüdiger sees goal ruled out
It was an end-to-end affair now, and with 73 minutes played, Reijnders made it 1-3, blasting past Lunin from inside the six-yard box. Madrid pushed forward in search of a goal and Militão came close with a 76th-minute header, before Rodrygo's lovely effort was stopped by Maignan three minutes later. Rüdiger did have the ball in the net on 83’ after pouncing on a clearance by the visiting goalkeeper, but VAR overturned the goal, having ajudged the German to be in an offside position. Six minutes later, Vini Jr. should have made it 2-3 with his head, but his effort failed to find the target. Brahim and Militão then enjoyed even better chances in injury time, but Maignan showed off his reactions to clinch all three points for Milan at the Bernabéu.