Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of those impressive players who has not slowed down with age. However, being 40 and staying in the media's eyes can be not easy sometimes. 

Recently, Zlatan has featured in Khaby Lame's latest Squid Game parody video, which was pretty viral. Also, he reposted it with the caption 'My Game, My Rules".

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has always been an influential figure, which he has been doing for so long. Being 40 doesn't stop him from scoring goals. He has been scoring actively for AC Milan since joining them. Corriere Dello Sport referred to him as the 'Super Ibra' last weekend.

Hernan Crespo praises Zlatan

"Zlatan is an absolute phenomenon," Hernan Crespo, his former Inter Teammate told the Gazzetta Dello Sport earlier this week. "Being able to do what he does at 40, in the Italian championship, which is one of the most difficult in the world, is incredible.

"In every match, even when he's not brilliant, he always proves to be at a higher level than both his teammates and the opponents. He's at a different level.

"When we played together at Inter, he was already a champion. But he didn't have the maturity and ability to lead the team that I see at Milan today.

"Now, he's a real beacon, his teammates just have to follow him to continue to grow and aim to win."

Crespo's views are true. Ibrahimovic has become a true leader since his return to San Siro in January 2020, an experienced veteran guiding the youngest squads in Serie A. Zlatan admitted that he never had this level of responsibility before, so he's getting familiar with the role. Improving in it as well.

Stefano Pioli on Ibrahimović

Milan coach Stefano Pioli says he had got into the habit of rarely speaking to his players after a game because he wanted to give them time, and space, to talk among themselves. However, he has now completely stopped going into the dressing immediately after the full-time whistle because he knows that Ibrahimović will take care of the initial post-match team talk.

"His arrival raised the bar,"  He told DAZN. "The thing that surprised me was his intelligence in calmly entering a group that was not yet formed. 

"Then, after that, he started making himself heard. He expects a lot from himself and others. He raises the bar and others recognize him as one who can make them grow.

"Even with everything he has already shown, Zlatan still wants to prove that he is a champion and a pro. So, he is here all day, gritting his teeth to overcome objective difficulties and pains."

Ibrahimovic is missing more games now due to injuries. His performances over 2 decades finally took a toll on him, physically.

A return from his recent Achilles injury has proved that after his not-so-good performance. He was not up to the mark followed by his own goal. However, he still ended up on the scoresheet and provided one assist. Helping his team to get a 4-2 win over Bologna.

The following weekend, in fact, getting dreadful racist abuse from Roma fans, Ibra scored the opener in a crucial 2-1 victory at the Stadio Olimpico that means The Rossoneri have now won seven games in a row.

Zlatan on himself

Ibrahimovic is influential on the field as he is off it, so retirement is the last thing on his book of plans. He already admitted that AC Milan may not be his last club, while his dream of representing Sweden at the 2022 World Cup could well become a reality.

"The secret to my longevity is in my mind, as I am trying to prove that 40 is just a number and I can continue to do what I love," Ibrahimovic told Telefoot.

"I want to keep improving every day. Obviously, I can't play the way I did before, but I am more intelligent now and have more experience."

Giroud on Zlatan

"He is a nice person, accommodating inside the dressing room and a great professional," Milan's Olivier Giroud told the Gazzetta.

"From the outside, he could seem focused on himself, but it's not like this with those working with him every day."

More from Zlatan Ibrahimovic

"When I was young, I just played, even if I felt pain in my tendons," he told Sports week. "I wanted to win and score, stop. With time and experience, I started using my head and I realized how important it is to listen to your body.

"My head is fine, but my body is getting old. It doesn't always keep up with it and it's a problem. This year, I have to listen to my body, every little signal it sends me. Only by doing so, can I avoid worse consequences.

"So, I need to think slowly, day by day, and realize that I am not Superman."

Still, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the Lion he is. Still daunting at the top of the field and striking goals.

AC Milan have presented a beautiful new kit for the club's 125-year celebration. The new kit is crafted by the renowned brand PUMA to give a tribute to the Rossoneri's 125 years of legacy as one of the greatest Italian clubs ever, and the shirt will be donned by AC Milan players in their next home game against Genoa in the iconic San Siro Stadium. 

Once upon a time in Rossonero… 📖🔴⚫

Introducing the 24/25 @pumafootball x #ACMilan 125th Anniversary Kit #MadeWithMilanismo #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/HKU5bJhYBA

— AC Milan (@acmilan) December 5, 2024

A stunning new kit to start the celebration

The fourth kit of AC Milan this season is a special edition kit, to celebrate the club's legacy of long 125 years. Founded in 1899, AC Milan have consolidated themselves as one of the greatest Italian clubs in history. The shirt is significantly unveiled today, on 5 December 2024, which is 12.5 if numerically written. 

The iconic red and black striped design which originally emerged in the 1950s now enhances the beauty of the new kit; whereas the logo describes "Milan Football and Cricket Club". The badge pays homage to the very first logo of the club and Herbert Kilpin, the club's founder who wanted the club to represent both football and cricket. An emblematic symbol of AC Milan during the 1980s called 'Diavoletto', which means 'Little Devil', is printed inside the jersey with an inscription that reads 'AC Milan 125.'

Back in December 2023, AC Milan invited some of its loyal supporters to the 'Design our Jersey. Design our Legacy' campaign. The key elements from AC Milan's long pages of history were chosen by the loyal supporters to be designed in the jersey. Only 1899 shirts each for a goalkeeper jersey, a football, and a limited edition retro jersey will be available to be purchased by fans. These shirts will also feature a unique serial number and receive an exclusive packaging. This is a tribute to the club's founding year, 1899. 

Nada como presentar una camiseta histórica con Franco Baresi. pic.twitter.com/n9ln28PDu2

— AC Milan TMN (@MilanTMN) December 5, 2024

Franco Baresi, AC Milan's Honorary Vice President expressed his emotions about the special jersey:

This jersey is a reflection of AC Milan’s soul - its passion, its history, and the vision for its future. As someone who has proudly represented this Club for 50 years in many different roles, this milestone represents a moment of celebration and unity for the entire Rossoneri family. The 125th Anniversary is a testament to the values and spirit that make AC Milan extraordinary, and this kit is a beautiful way to honour our journey while celebrating the unwavering bond with our fans.

On behalf of PUMA, Marco Mueller, PUMA’s Senior Director of Product Line Management Teamsport said:

The 125th Anniversary kit is not only a celebration of AC Milan’s past but also a tribute to the unwavering passion of its fans. We’re honored to have worked with the Rossoneri faithful to create something that’s not only a piece of football history but also designed for performance and pride.

The 125th-anniversary kit was officially unveiled yesterday in Milan in an exclusive event at the club’s Flagship Store in Via Dante. This special kit will make its exciting on-field debut on December 8 when AC Milan Women will take on Inter Milan in the Milan Derby, followed by the men's team facing Genoa on December 15 at the San Siro Stadium. 

Hello and welcome to another UEFA Champions League night. Tonight, we will cover one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season as Real Madrid host AC Milan at their iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.

Both Real Madrid and AC Milan are one of the two most successful teams in the tournament history. However, the defending champion Madrid along with Milan have not been able to get the perfect start for the tournament this season.

Read Also | UEFA Champions League 2024-25 | Real Madrid vs AC Milan | Match Preview, Head-to-head, Possible Lineups and Fantasy XI Prediction

Real Madrid with six points after three games are currently in number 12th position whereas Milan with only 1 point after three games currently in number 25th position on the points table.

With both teams looking for a win we hope for an exciting game tonight. So sit back and relax as Koushik Biwas brings you the buildup, news, images, live scores, news and updates of the Real Madrid vs AC Milan match from our webdesk.

The defending champions Real Madrid are back in the UCL and they will face AC Milan in the league match of the fourth match-week of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25. Real Madrid is set to welcome their Italian opponents in the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on 6 November 2024. The Los Blancos made a classic comeback against Borussia Dortmund in their last UCL outing, whereas the Rossoneris had their first win of UCL 2024-25 by 3-1 against Club Brugge in their last match.

From possible starting XIs to Fantasy predictions, here is everything you need to know about the League match of Real Madrid vs AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25. 

Match Details 

Match: Real Madrid vs AC Milan - UEFA Champions League 2024-25 League Match

Date:  6 November 2024

Time: 1:30 AM IST

Venue: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain 

How to watch the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 League Match between Real Madrid and AC Milan

The match will be streamed Live on the Sony Liv app and website. Viewers can also watch the game live on TV on Sony Sports Network. 

Team News

Real Madrid

Real Madrid may have faced a distressing 0-4 defeat against FC Barcelona in their last match in LaLiga 2024-25, but on a Champions League night, the Los Blancos are a different gravy. In the third match-week of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25, Real Madrid made a stunning comeback to beat Borussia Dortmund by 5-2 after trailing by 0-2 at the break. Vinicius Jr. netted a marvelous hat-trick.

However, Madrid's last outing against Valencia CF in the LaLiga has been postponed due to the flood in Spain that killed more than 200 people. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has expressed his concern in the press conference ahead of the UCL match against Milan.

🎙️ @MrAncelotti 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/h8CgVYmdFW

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) November 4, 2024

Real Madrid started their UCL campaign with a 3-1 win over VfB Stuttgart but in the second match-week, the defending champions faced a shocking 0-1 defeat against French side LOSC Lille. However, after crushing Dortmund by 5-2, Madrid is now in the 12th position in the league table with 6 points in 3 matches.

🤜⚽🤛#UCL | #RMCity pic.twitter.com/JsZ6zdAwEo

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) November 4, 2024

Ancelotti will have a reinforcing boost for the attacking line-up against his former club as Rodrygo has fully recovered from a hamstring injury, and he is expected to start against AC Milan. However, Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, and David Alaba are still out due to long-term injuries.

📋✅ ¡Nuestros convocados!
🆚 @acmilan #UCL pic.twitter.com/645dPRwULz

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) November 4, 2024

The team may face some changes in the starting line-up as Ancelotti may bring Luka Modric back in the starting eleven, and the Rodrygo-Mbappe-Vini trident will make a start. The defending champions will look for their third win against AC Milan to progress further in the league table and enter the top 8. 

Last 5 Matches: W W W W L

Read Also | UEFA Champions League 2024-25 league phase match week 3 roundup

AC Milan

AC Milan faced a trembling start both in the UEFA Champions League and the Serie A and currently they are struggling with Injuries and performances. The Rossoneris clinched their first UCL win this season in the last match-week against Club Brugge by 3-1. However, they lost their first two matches against Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen by 1-3 and 0-1 respectively.

AC Milan is also struggling in the Serie A although they won their last match against Monza by 1-0 last week. Currently, they are 7th in the Serie A but 25th in the UCL League table with only 3 points 3 matches.

🗣️ Coach Fonseca shares his confidence and motivation ahead of #RealMilan#UCL #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/4eYNzlq9ol

— AC Milan (@acmilan) November 4, 2024

Milan coach Paulo Fonseca is under enormous pressure as his team is struggling to deliver results and he will leave no stone unturned to stabilize his position. However, he will have to assemble the squad without Matteo Gabbia who is out due to muscular injuries along with Ismael Benaccer, Luka Jovic, and Alessandro Florenzi who are out due to long-term injuries.

One direction ➡️ #RealMilan#UCL #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/FeKVdAyrcj

— AC Milan (@acmilan) November 4, 2024

Theo Hernandez will surely start in defence against his former club along with Thiaw and Tomori. Tammy Abraham returned to the team against Monza after recovering from injuries but Alvaro Morata is expected to start. Rafael Leão is reportedly looking for an exit from Milan due to his feud with Fonseca but he is expected to be a starter against Real Madrid.

AC Milan will hunt for their second UCL win of the season and enter the play-off positions.

Last 5 Matches: L W W L W 

Head-to-head (in UCL)

Matches played: 15

Real Madrid Wins: 6

AC Milan Wins: 6

Draws: 3

Possible Playing XI

Real Madrid

Andriy Lunin (GK); Lucas Vazquez, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy; Federico Valverde, Luka Modric, Jude Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe.

AC Milan 

Mike Maignan (GK), Emerson Royal, Malick Thiaw, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez, Youssouf Fofana, Tijjani Reijnders, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic, Alvaro Morata, Rafael Leão

Real Madrid and AC Milan: Fantasy XI Prediction

Maignan, Rudiger, Militao, Theo, Valverde, Bellingham, Reijnders, Loftus-Cheek, Leão, Mbappe, Vinicius.

Hello and welcome to Sportz Point's coverage of Champions League football. We bring you all the results from the games in Europe's biggest club competition over the last two nights. This match week has witnessed remarkable comebacks, shocking wins, and exciting football matches all around. 

So, sit back and relax, as we bring all the updates of the match week 3 of the UEFA Champions League 2024 - 25 league phase round.

Read Also| UEFA Champions League 2024-25 league phase match week roundup | Big wins for Dortmund, Barcelona, Inter; Real Madrid and Bayern face shocking defeats

Tuesday night's fixtures

AC Milan 3-1 Club Brugge

Tijjani Reijnders netted two goals, securing Milan's first points. Brugge's Joel Ordóñez came close by hitting the crossbar, while Christian Pulišić scored directly from a corner in the 34th minute. Even six minutes after Raphael Onyedika's red card, Brugge managed to equalize through Kyriani Sabbe shortly after the break. However, Reijnders' brace ensured Milan's victory. 

Monaco 5-1 Crvena Zvezda

Wilfried Singo's spectacular long-range goal was the highlight as Monaco continued their unbeaten run with an emphatic victory. Takumi Minamino scored early with a composed finish, but Cherif Ndiaye quickly equalized for Crvena Zvezda from the penalty spot.

Breel Embolo put Monaco back in front before halftime, and Singo's remarkable strike extended the lead after the break. Minamino added his second with a simple tap-in, followed by Maghnes Akliouche curling in a fifth goal in the final minutes of the match.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk

Arsenal continued their unbeaten run by defeating Shakhtar, who remain goalless in the competition. Gabriel Martinelli's shot in the 29th minute deflected off the post and into the net via Dmytro Riznyk. Despite Riznyk's saves, including a penalty stop against Leandro Trossard, Arsenal secured all 3 points, reaching seven points from three games.

Aston Villa 2-0 Bologna

Aston Villa maintained their perfect record in this year's league phase with a 2-0 win over Bologna at Villa Park. After a dominant first half, John McGinn opened the scoring with a free-kick early in the second half, followed by John Durán's volley, securing Villa's place at the top of the table.

Girona 2-0 Slovan Bratislava

Centre-back Juanpe scored a free-kick on his Champions League debut as Girona secured their first-ever points in the competition. Miguel Gutiérrez gave Girona the lead in the 42nd minute, finishing Arnaut Danjuma's cross. Juanpe's 73rd-minute goal sealed a comfortable win for Girona.

Juventus 0-1 Stuttgart

Enzo Millot had a chance to score from the penalty spot after Juve's Danilo was sent off, but Perin saved his attempt. Substitute El Bilal Touré netted the winner in stoppage time, capping off an impressive performance by the visitors in Turin.

PSG 1-1 PSV Eindhoven

PSV opened the scoring in Paris in the 34th minute when Noa Lang placed a right-footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. PSG responded in the 55th minute with Achraf Hakimi's right-footed shoot to the center of the goal

Real Madrid 5-2 Dortmund

Real Madrid came from behind in a seven-goal thriller to secure all three points. Dortmund started the game with early goals from Malen and Gittens to put them 2-0 up. Vinicius Jr. put up a masterclass by scoring a hat-trick to help Madrid secure the win.

Sturm 0-2 Sporting

Goals from Nuno Stantos and Star Striker Gyokeres were enough to seal a perfect win for Sporting away from home in the competition

Read Also| 5 best Champions League matches between FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich

Wednesday night's fixtures

Atlanta 0-0 Celtic

Celtic endured prolonged periods of heavy pressure from Atalanta to secure their first away point of the season in Bergamo. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel witnessed Mario Pašalić's header strike the underside of the crossbar before producing a brilliant save to deny Mateo Retegui's headed attempt.

Brest 1-1 Leverkusen

Leverkusen capitalized on their early dominance when Florian Wirtz fired a low shot into the bottom corner after a well-executed Die Werkself move midway through the first half. However, Brest's impressive debut in European competition continued 15 minutes later with Lees-Melou's stylish finish from outside the box, assisted by Mahdi Camara.

Atletico Madrid 1-3 Lille

Lille staged a comeback to secure a victory over Atlético. Julián Alvarez opened the scoring early for the hosts with his first Champions League goal for Atleti, but Edon Zhegrova leveled the game in the second half with a well-placed strike. The match was decided when Jonathan David calmly converted a penalty and added a second goal in the final moments.

Young Boys 0-1 Inter Milan

Marcus Thuram came off the bench and scored three minutes into stoppage time, securing a full three points for Inter away from home. Earlier in the match, Marko Arnautović was denied from the penalty spot by a brilliant save from David von Ballmoos.

Barcelona 4-1 Bayern Munchen

The Italian outfit AC Milan will host the 2023-24 Belgian Pro League champions, Club Brugge, on the opening matchday of the third match-week of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 on 22 October 2024. AC Milan had a disappointing start to their campaign, losing both matches against Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, respectively. Club Brugge lost their opening game against Dortmund but improved their position by winning against SK Sturm Graz in the second match-week.

From possible starting XIs to Fantasy predictions, here is everything you need to know about the League match of AC Milan vs Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25. 

Match Details 

Match: AC Milan vs Club Brugge - UEFA Champions League 2024-25 League Match

Date:  22 October 2024

Time: 10:15 PM IST

Venue: San Siro Stadium, Milan, Italy

How to watch the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 League Match between AC Milan and Club Brugge

The match will be streamed Live on the Sony Liv app and website. Viewers can also watch the game live on TV on Sony Sports Network. 

Team News

AC Milan

After managing a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Udinese in the Serie A last week, AC Milan will be back in the UCL in hunt of their first point in the 2024-25 edition. 

AC Milan had an upsetting start in UCL this season as they lost their opening game by 1-3 against Liverpool at the San Siro. Following that defeat, AC Milan faced Bayer Leverkusen, the German Champions, and faced a tight 0-1 defeat by Victor Boniface's decisive goal. 

Fighting fit ahead of #MilanBrugge 🥊#UCL #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/fn4u2eG1PM

— AC Milan (@acmilan) October 21, 2024

Milan coach Paulo Fonseca confirmed that Rafael Leao will play against Club Brugge after getting zero minutes against Udinese. Defensive duo Thiaw and Pavlovic from the last game will be replaced by Matteo Gabbia and Fikayo Tomori. Theo Hernandez will again lead the Milan defence. Also, Milan's highest goalscorer this season with 6 goals, Christian Pulisic will be starting against Brugge. 

Fonseca will construct his team without the services of Isamel Benaccer and Alessandro Florenzi as both of them are out for long-term injuries. Davide Calabria will also be out for discomforts. Tammy Abraham will also be excluded from the squad as he suffered a shoulder injury against Udinese. 

Fine tuning ahead of our Tour de Force 🛠️ #MilanBrugge #UCL #SempreMilan

— AC Milan (@acmilan) October 20, 2024

Milan is currently in the 32nd position in the league table and Fonseca's primary target will be earning their first point and progressing on the league table. However, the fact that Milan won 4 out of their last 5 games will boost the morale of the Italian side.

Last 5 Matches: W W L W W 

Read Also | UCL 2024-25 Match-week 2 Round-up

Club Brugge KV

Club Brugge suffered a 0-3 crush in their opening game against Borussia Dortmund but regained their confidence back as the Belgian side earned a 1-0 away victory against SK Sturm Graz in the second matchday. 

Club Brugge will return to continue their UCL campaign after winning by 2-1 against Westerlo in the Belgian Pro League last week. The 70,000 fans at San Siro will welcome the Brugge side in their clash against Milan. 

Under the 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐫𝐨 lights. ✨ #ACMCLU #UCL

— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) October 21, 2024

Brugge manager Nicky Hayen will have to travel to Milan without their first-team winger Andreas Skov Olsen and Swedish forward Gustaf Nilsson. Olsen scored 4 goals along with Nilsson who scored 3 in the Belgian Pro League but they both will miss Club Brugge's most important match so far this season. 

Last preps. 🔥 #ACMCLU #UCL pic.twitter.com/EKp1fDaeuw

— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) October 21, 2024

Currently 21st on the league table, Club Brugge will give their best to return with a point earned from this all-important clash. 

Last 5 Matches: L D W D W

Head-to-head

Matches Played: 4

AC Milan wins: 2

Club Brugge wins: 1

Draws: 1 

Read Also: UEFA Champions League 2024-25 first round highlights

Possible Playing XI

AC Milan 

Mike Maignan (GK), Emerson Royal, Matteo Gabbia, Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez,; Youssouf Fofana, Tijjani Reijnders, Ruben Loftus-Cheek; Christian Pulisic, Alvaro Morata, Rafael Leão

Club Brugge KV

Simon Mignolet (GK); Joaquin Seys, Joel Ordonez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper; Rapahel Onyedika; Michal Skoras, Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken, Christos Tzolis; Chemsdine Talbi.

AC Milan vs Club Brugge: Fantasy XI Prediction

Maignan, Gabbia, Theo, Seys, Mechele, Reijnders, Loftus-Cheek, Vanaken, Pulisic, Leão