AC Milan 1 - Real Madrid 0

Milan: Dida; Simic (Chamot 90'), Costacurta, Maldini, Kaladze; Seedorf, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Rui Costa (Serginho 76'); Shevchenko (Tomasson 82'), Rivaldo. 4-4-2.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Iván Helguera, Pavón, Roberto Carlos; Celades, Cambiasso (Solari 76'); Figo, Raúl, Zidane; Morientes (Portillo 62'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 40. Shevchenko. Ran on to Rui Costa through ball to hit shot past Casillas.

Real Madrid lost their first game in the second phase, and have now gone three matches since they last scored a goal. Shevchenko's strike late in the first half was enough to give AC Milan a 1-0 victory over the European Champions, and get the Italians off to a best possible start. The tie merited more than one goal though, with both sides creating several scoring chances in a fast moving match.

Home side manager Ancelotti left out his top goalscorer Inzaghi to make room for Shevchenko, and found a place for both Rivaldo and Rui Costa in his starting line up. Madrid were missing four of their first choice players, with Ronaldo still out with flu and Hierro, Makelele and Guti all injured, and Morientes and Celades were brought in to the side.

The Spaniards had lost all of their previous four visits to the San Siro stadium, and they were almost caught out in the first minute when Casillas had to save from ex Real Madrid midfielder Seedorf. Shevchenko and Rivaldo both shot wide, and Rui Costa wasted a free kick in a good position. At the other end Roberto Carlos hit a free kick wide and Figo also failed to find the target on a rapid counterattack.

Morientes was presented with an easy chance soon afterwards, but he hesitated too long and allowed Dida to close him down. The Brazilian keeper also dealt well with efforts from Zidane and Salgado before Shevchenko put his side in front, running on to a precision pass from Rui Costa before shooting low past Casillas.

Milan could have gone further ahead after the break when Casillas just tipped over a long Rui Costa shot and Cambiasso cleared off the line from Seedorf. But Madrid came back in the last few minutes, and Raúl forced the ball over the line only to see the goal ruled out, presumably for offside (although the defenders were in fact claiming hand ball).

After that the Italians ran down the clock, happy to have the first three points in the bag against their most dangerous rival. Madrid now go on to Tokyo to play the intercontinental cup final against South American champions Olimpia de Asunción, hoping to get their goalscoring machine back into action.