Milan stun Real Madrid, United and Chelsea in control

HAMBURG - A late goal from Alexandre Pato saw AC Milan come from behind to stun Real Madrid 3-2 in the Champions League football Wednesday while Manchester United remained on track for the knockout stages after a late Luis Valencia goal secured a 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow.

Madrid looked to be cruising to a third win in succession at the Bernabeu when Raul took advantage of a blunder by Dida on 19 minutes to net the 66th Champions League goal of his career, but a long-range effort from Andrea Pirlo and a Pato brace turned the game on its head.

Ronaldinho was just a shadow of his former self - and could indeed have been sent off late on for raising his arm to Raul - while Real could also have had a penalty when Gianluca Zambrotta looked to have hauled down Karim Benzema in the area.

With Real dominating, Dida produced a good save just before the break to palm away a long-range shot from Marcelo before also denying Kaka on 52 minutes.

However, just as it looked like Real would put the game beyond Milan’s reach, Pirlo slammed in an equalizer from over 30 metres out on 62 minutes to make it 1-1.

Iker Casillas should have done better in dealing with Pirlo’s shot and made an even bigger mistake four minutes later when he raced out of his area but ended up in no man’s land, allowing Pato to stroke the ball into the empty net to hand Milan a surprise lead.

Manuel Pellegrini brought on Royston Drenthe for Esteban Granero and reaped the reward when the Dutch international levelled matters 14 minutes from time, scoring his first ever goal for Real with a shot from the edge of the area.

Pato could have taken all three points for Milan six minutes from time but Casillas produced a stunning save with his feet. However, the Brazilian made no mistake on 88 minutes when he volleyed home a Clarence Seedorf cross to seal a surprise 3-2 win.

The win sees Milan draw level with Madrid at the top of Group C on six points. Marseille and Zurich both have three points after the French side enjoyed a 1-0 in the other group game.

In Group B, the game between Manchester United and CSKA Moscow looked to be petering out in a scoreless draw before Valencia struck four minutes from time to help United maintain their 100-percent record.

The win means United equal Ajax’s record of 14 unbeaten away games in the Champions League. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side now have a maximum nine points from three games, five clear of Germany’s VfL Wolfsburg, who played out a 0-0 draw with Besiktas Istanbul.

In Group A, Bordeaux could afford to concede an own goal, miss two penalties and still enjoy a 2-1 against Bayern Munich, who finished the game with just nine men after Thomas Mueller and Daniel van Buyten were sent off.

Bayern got off to the perfect start in France when Michael Ciani steered a Holger Badstuber into his own net early on but made amends when he netted the equalizer on 29 minutes.

A minute later, Bayern were reduced to 10 men when Mueller was sent off for a second bookable offence and Marc Planus made it 2-1 to Bordeaux four minutes before half-time with a firmly struck right-foot shot.

Joerg Butt saved his first penalty on 66 minutes before Luca Toni hit the post for Munich. Van Buyten received a straight red two minutes from time for a foul on Marouane Chamakh but Butt was the hero again, saving the resultant spot-kick.

The win sees Bordeaux move top on seven points, two clear of Juventus, who secured a 1-0 win at home to Maccabi Haifa when Giorgio Chiellini headed home a Diego free-kick on 47 minutes. Bayern drop to third on four points.

Chelsea top Group D with a maximum nine points after a brace from Salomon Kalou, a strike from Frank Lampard and an own goal from Luis Perea secured a 4-0 win over hapless Atletico Madrid. Porto sit second on six points thanks to a 2-1 victory over APOEL Nicosia.