Stephan El Shaarawy starred as AC Milan handed Real Madrid its first defeat in 23 games, winning 4-2 at the Dubai Football Challenge. The Italy striker scoredtwice after Jeremy Menez opened the scoring, while Giampaolo Pazzini headed in Milan’s fourth. Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema got the goals for Real.
Carlo Ancelotti was nonplussed in defeat, insisting the friendly was good preparation for his team’s game against Valencia in La Liga on Sunday. “This defeat doesn’t hurt, not atall,” the Real coach said. “We’ve had a week of preparation. Physically we were good. It’s allowed us to get our rhythm back after a week off. We did what we needed to. An effort in whicheveryone had their 45 minutes. Now we have a day to rest and then two to get ready for the game in Mestalla.”
Meanwhile, Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi, who used to play for Ancelottiwhen he coached the Rossoneri, said: “I am satisfied. It was, however, a friendly and we cannot get ahead of ourselves. It’s been a while now that we’ve been playing like this and tonight it all wentvery well. El Shaarawy did very well, he scored two brilliant goals. They all did well, even those that came on after. I am spoiled for choice. In the past three matches we’ve faced Napoli, Roma andReal Madrid, winning twice and drawing once, playing on equal terms with all of them.”