AC Milan thrash Real Madrid 3-1; Sporting CP, Liverpool also win

Milan puts defending champion's chances for knockout stage in doubt while Sporting, Liverpool also win big

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

C Milan delivered a big blow to defending champions Real Madrid with a 3-1 thrashing while Sporting CP and Liverpool FC also won their respective Champions League matches on Wednesday.

Real Madrid's qualification for the knockout stage of the Champions League suffered a major setback.

The defeat leaves Real Madrid with six points from its first four matches in the tournament, with a visit to play Liverpool at Anfield next on the agenda, and more than the result, coach Carlo Ancelotti will be worried by a poor performance from his side, who had a rest at the weekend.

The game was just 12 minutes old when Malick Thiaw put Milan ahead with a near-post finish from a corner that was poorly defended by the home side.

Real Madrid reacted well and was level after 23 minutes when the VAR decreed a penalty against Vinicius Jr committed by Emerson, who left his foot high to bring down the winger.

Vinicius picked himself up and scored with a chipped penalty into the middle of the Milan goal.

Milan didn't allow themselves to be intimidated by the equaliser, and Spain international Alvaro Morata restored their lead when he nodded home after Lunin had done well to save from Rafael Leao.