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29 March 2024

Dubai Football Challenge: El Shaarawy double sinks Real Madrid

Published
By Allaam Ousman

Real Madrid suffered their first defeat of the season, albeit in a non-competitive match, as AC Milan won the Dubai Football Challenge for the fourth consecutive time at The Sevens on Tuesday.

Man of the match Stephan El Shaarawy's double either side of the interval sealed victory for the Serie A giants.


Menez opened scoring with Real superstar Ronaldo pleasing his fans by pulling back one before half-time.


Pazzini completed the rout though Benzema scoring a consolation penalty at the end.


Real coach Carlo Ancelotti left star players Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez out of his starting line-up but Cristiano Ronaldo began the match and scored a first half goal in vain.

FULL TIME

 

 

Real Madrid 2 (Ronaldo 35" Benzema 84"-pen) AC Milan 4 (Menez 24" El Shaarawy 31" 49" Pazzini 73")

90+2" Bale's thundering shot is blocked by Agazzi after a fine flick back by Benzema while Rodriguez pulls his last-gasp shot wide.

89" Pazzini attempts a double with his shot sailing over following a break by Essien.

88" Rodriguez attempts another long range shot which goes sailing over.

87" There is a stoppage as Mexes is hobbling feeling the effects of blocking a Benzema block earlier.

Real Madrid 2 (Ronaldo 35" Benzema 84"-pen) AC Milan 4 (Menez 24" El Shaarawy 31" 49" Pazzini 73")

84" PENALTY! Benzema makes not mistake with a penalty to give Real a fighting chance.

82" Rodriguez tries to turn in Tomas who fails to latch onto the chip kick.

77" Inzaghi throws in 16-year-old Mastour who has been dubbed as the next Neymar.

76" Rodriguez goes for a glory shot with his left foot only succeeding in sending the ball sailing over.

Real Madrid 1 (Ronaldo 35") AC Milan 4 (Menez 24" El Shaarawy 31" 49" Pazzini 73")

73" GOAL! Pazzini heads home a lovely cross from Niang to kill the match as a contest.

72" YELLOW! Carjaval is booked for pushing Niang to ground as Real show more aggression.

70" YELLOW! Kroos is booked while Niang troubles Casillas.

68" El Shaarawy who feels a twinge on his leg is replaced by Poli.

67" Bale meets a cross from Tomás but heads it over.

65" Ancelotti makes a double change throwing in a couple of youngsters.

61" Agazzi makes another save after Bale fires from close range having been put clear by Isco.

60" Milan make a double change with Lopez making way for Agazzi who goes into action immediately fielding a 30-yard drive by Bale.

57" Real are on the charge with Benzema being stalled by Alex while Jesse is held back with appeals for a penalty being waved away.

54" Frustration for Real as Benzema fires over the bar after the ball came off the post.

52" YELLOW! Pepe is shown a yellow card after barging on El Shaarawy with Alex hitting the free kick into the wall.

51" Casillas makes a good save after Bonaventura pulls the trigger.

Real Madrid 1 (Ronaldo 35") AC Milan 3 (Menez 24" El Shaarawy 31" 49")

49" GOAL! El Shaarawy cannot be denied after a fine one-two and slamming inside the near post.

47" El Shaarawy makes a lovely break on the left rounding two defenders but Navas keeps it out with his leg.

46" Real get the second half underway with Benzema and Bale coming on while former Chelsea star Essien has come on for Milan among the many changes made at the break.

HALF TIME


Real Madrid 1 (Ronaldo 35") AC Milan 2 (Menez 24" El Shaarawy 31")

45" Bonaventura lets fly over the bar after a fine cut back from Menez.

44" Ronaldo wins a corner which is taken short.

42" Milan on the prowl with El Shaarawy finding space on the left.

40" Navas makes a good save after Montolivo fires one through the legs of a defender.

37" The tempo of the game picked up with the decibel levels in the stadium also rising after Ronaldo's riposte.

Real Madrid 1 (Ronaldo 35") AC Milan 2 (Menez 24" El Shaarawy 31")

35" GOAL! Ronaldo fires with a clinical finish inside the near post after a break by Jesse.

33" Chicharito fires from the edge of the box  while Illara's shot is nicked away by Ronaldo.

Real Madrid 0 AC Milan 2 (Menez 24" El Shaarawy 31")

31" GOAL! El Shaarawy scores a stunning goal to double Milan's lead.

30" Menez is cautioned for tripping Coentrao from behind.

28" Real get a golden opportunity to equalise with Khedira doing well to keep ball in play after Lopez comes out but no one is there to latch onto it.

27" Navas forced to make another save punching a cross away before Montolivo fires a thundering volley wide of the near post.

Real Madrid 0 AC Milan 1 (Menez 24")

24" GOAL! Milan go ahead after a defensive blunder by Nacho with Menez pouncing on the pass back to slide the ball to the far corner with his second touch.

22" El Shaarawy launches a counter attack on the left but loses the ball easily.

21" Mexes makes his presence felt by towering over Chicharito.

20" Khedira fires one at the wall and also fouls Nigel de Jong with a late tackle.

19" Real earn their first corner after Ronaldo slips through but it is headed away by Zapata.

17" Khedira makes a superb break drilling the ball to his left with Lopez doing well to close the gap as Real pick up the tempo.

15" Coentrao is down this time after Navas is forced to make a hasty clearance as Milan turn on the pressure.

14" Varane goes down after a clash of heads with Bonaventura and Navas had to scramble to make his first save.

12" Positive start by Milan with Bonaventura floating a cross which goes wide.

10" Milan win the first corner which sails harmlessly.

6" Real foil a counter attack by Milan.

4" The stadium comes alive as Ronaldo makes his first move breaking through the middle.

2" AC Milan who are playing in a 4-4-2 formation knock the ball around.

1" AC Milan get the historic match in the Middle East under way.

Ronaldo is wearing the captain's arm band to the delight of his fans and won the toss.

Helal Al Marri, Director General of Dubai Tourism has been introduced to the two teams.

The atmosphere is electric at The Sevens which is filled to capacity.

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo starts as expected while Welsh winger Gareth Bale who is being sought by Manchester United is on the bench.

El Shaarawy starts for AC Milan for whom Lopez is at goal.


Teams

Real Madrid:
Navas; Varane, Coentrao, Khedira, Ronaldo, Chicharito, Arbeloa, Nacho, Jese, Isco, Illara

AC Milan: Diego Lopez; Bonera, Mexes, Zapata, Albertazzi, Montolivo, De Jong, Muntari, Bonaventura, Menez, El Shaarawy

Preview

European champions Real Madrid are ready to put on a "good show" for their fans in the Middle East when they take on Serie A giants AC Milan in the Dubai Football Challenge at The Sevens on Tuesday.

The glamour friendly between the two European giants is scheduled to kick-off at 8pm.

 


World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo will arguably be the star attraction at this blockbuster clash with tickets being sold out well in advance.

Despite the fourth edition of the Dubai Football Challenge not being a competitive fixtures, both teams are motivated to produce their best during their short winter break.

“This week is important to prepare for the next games. Here in Dubai the weather and atmosphere is good for us, which gives us good motivation for our games next week," said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti at a press conference on Monday.

“We are happy to be here in Dubai because we have a lot of support here in the Middle East. Of course we are happy to come here, to play this game, show our quality and give happiness to our supporters,” added Ancelotti.

Real Madrid are keen to continue their winning streak of 22 matches this season and fresh from their triumph at the Club World Cup.

“We are not going to kill the players,” said Ancelotti. “What they need is rest, but we will play this match the best we can, and the team is motivated because if we win this game it helps us win the next match."

Ancelotti confirmed that Real would be at full strength against AC Milan, with only injured defender Sergio Ramos missing out.

“Every player that is here is going to play,” he said. “I cannot tell you the line-up from the beginning but all will play. The only players who won’t be playing are those still in Madrid due to injury. But Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema are going to play and I hope they will play well," he said.

Real players Isco and Daniel Carvajal both agreed the AC Milan match would help the team continue their winning run.

“We know 2015 will be very difficult at the beginning,” midfielder Isco said. “We will carry on the way we ended 2014 and look to continue the very long number of consecutive victories. The team is mentally prepared to face the challenge next year.”

Real are at the top of Spanish League with 39 points from 15 matches followed by arch rivals Barcelona with 38 points from 16 games in the second spot this season so far.

Carvajal added: “It’s a match we were asked to do in the winter break but we will take it very seriously. We are excited about this match because it is good preparation for us as January will be a hard month for us.”

Ancelotti said it would be a "special day" for him since his rival coach Filippo Inzaghi was key player during his tenure at AC Milan.

“All the team will play,” Inzaghi said at a pre-match media conference at Emirates headquarters in Al Garhoud on Sunday.

“Okay, I may change players because they don’t have 90 minutes in their legs, but I will put the best players on the field from the first minute.”

The Emirates 777-300ER, emblazoned with the Real Madrid logo along the side, landed at the Dubai International Airport to a gathering of fans for their first visit to the city.

Emirates airline and co-host, Dubai Tourism, have worked together to bring the two European giants to Dubai.

The Executive Director of Dubai Convention and Events Bureau at DTCM, a co-ordinating partner of Dubai Football Challenge, Hamad Mohammed Bin Mejren, welcoming the football giants, said that their entry to Dubai marks a magnificent end to a fantastic year of football.

Ticket holders are advised to arrive early when the gates open and enjoy the facilities and activities in The Village.

The festivities start from 3pm and include activations from event sponsors Adidas, du and live entertainment from ARN’s Kris Fade and Tom Urquhart.