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From the Desk

Here are the match ratings of the 'Derby of Europe' between Real Madrid and AC Milan in the Champions League tie at the Bernabeu.

By Eugene YS Han

REAL MADRID

Casillas: 5
Not a good night for goalkeepers. His mistake in rushing out of goal allowed Pato to score Milan's second goal.

Sergio Ramos: 5
Went AWOL as Real went down. Was committed more to attack than defence.

Pepe: 5
Real's defence needed a leader and Pepe wasn't one.

Albiol: 5
Was a peripheral figure as he struggled to keep tabs on Milan's attackers.

Marcelo: 6
The only defender to earn any credit. Was also a great asset when going into attack.

Kaka: 5
Strangely subdued against his old team. Didn't give the cutting edge Real needed in attack.

Lassana Diarra: 6
Did his job as a effective water carrier.

Alonso: 6
Tried to control the midfield for Real but struggled to come to terms with Milan's mobile midfielders.

Granero: 5
Not his usual self and did not leave any impression. Replaced by Drenthe.

Benzema: 5
Was lively in the opening moments of the game but faded later on.

Raul: 7
Showed great anticipation for Real's opening goal. It was his 66th in European competition.

Subs:
Drenthe 6
Gave Real hope with the second equaliser but ultimately failed to inspire his team.

AC MILAN

Dida: 5
A schoolboy mistake led to Milan conceding the first goal but the Brazilian steadily improved as the game wore on.

Oddo: 6
Kept up well with Real's attacks.

Nesta: 6
Marshalled the defence well in the face of a hostile Real attacks. Could have got himself sent-off in the closing stages of the game during a melee.

Thiago Silva: 5
Not as assured in the middle of defence.

Zambrotta: 5
Lucky to escape conceding a penalty when he brought down Benzema from behind in the 14th minute.

Ambrosini: 6
Created Pato's first goal with a defence-splitting pass.

Pirlo: 7
The pivtol man in Milan's midfield and upstaged former teammate Kaka with a wonderful goal.

Seedorf: 6
As busy as ever and showed his class with some great passes.

Alexandre Pato: 8
Kept up his goal-scoring streak with two goals at the Bernabeu. He is definitely living up to his promise.

Inzaghi: 6
As usual, he was caught off-side a few times but proven to be a thorn in Real's defence.

Ronaldinho: 6
Showed glimpses of true quality as well as flashes of mediocrity. Milan will be expecting more consistency from him.

Subs:
Flamini: 6

Borriello: 6