Pato saves Dida’s blushes as AC Milan rock Real

ALEXANDRE PATO saved the blushes of fellow Brazilian Dida with a brace as AC Milan stunned Real Madrid at the Bernabeu last night to get their Champions League challenge back on track and inflict only a second competitive defeat of the season on their big-spending hosts.

For a while it looked as though Dida’s dreadful first-half error, which allowed Raul to give Madrid a half-time lead, would cost Milan dear but Pato popped up in the 88th minute to volley home his side’s winner and help the Italians bounce back from defeat to FC Zurich in their previous Group C match.

Pato had earlier put Milan ahead in the 66th minute after Andrea Pirlo’s equaliser just minutes before. Royston Drenthe was the other goalscorer, making it 2-2 in the 76th minute, but his effort could not save Madrid in the battle between the two most successful sides in European Cup history.

The results means seven-time European champions Milan join Madrid, who have won the competition a record nine times, on six points at the midway point of the group stages.

Madrid took the lead after 19 minutes following Dida’s error.

The Milan goalkeeper comfortably saved Esteban Granero’s head-high shot but, in looking up to see where his team-mates were, he took his eye off the ball before he had complete control of it.

The subsequent fumble was pounced on by the alert Raul, who nicked the ball away from the Brazil keeper before side-footing into an empty net.

But completely against the run of play, Milan not only found an equaliser but also managed to take the lead in a remarkable four-minute spell after the interval that turned the game upside down. First Pirlo fired home from 35 yards before Pato beat Dida to Massimo Ambrosini‘s through-ball to put the Italian side in front.

Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini brought Royston Drenthe on as a substitute a chance and the move proved to be an inspired one as the Dutchman drew Madrid level with 14 minutes to go.

The former Feyenoord man sent the stadium into raptures as he brought down Raul’s corner on the edge of the box before drilling home a low left-footed shot just inside the post.

However, that was not enough to earn Madrid a point as Milan claimed the spoils thanks to Pato’s late strike.

REAL MADRID: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Marcelo, Kaka, Lassana Diarra, Alonso, Granero (Drenthe 67), Benzema, Raul.

AC MILAN: Dida, Oddo, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf, Alexandre Pato, Inzaghi (Borriello 60), Ronaldinho (Flamini).

Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).