Champions League -03/11/2009
Milan and Real Madrid draw
Madrid struck the first blow when Karim Benzema finished from close range after Milan keeper Dida had failed to hold a shot from former Rossoneri star Kaka.
But the hosts drew level when Madrid defender Pepe was harshly adjudged to have handled a cross from Gianluca Zambrotta and Ronaldinho stepped up to blast the penalty into the roof of the net.
Milan were then harshly denied another when Pato had what looked like a perfectly good goal chalked off for an earlier infringement as the first half drew to a close.
The game saw the return to the San Siro of former Milan hero Kaka. For years the Brazilian was puppeteer for the Rossoneri, but in front of then fans who used to adore him, he wasted little time in re-assuming the mantle for his new club.
In tandem with former Liverpool playmaker Xabi Alonso, Kaka seized control of the midfield and probed tirelessly in front of the Milan back four.
And the visitors' early supremacy was reflected in the chances that came their way. Benzema twice came close to handing the hosts an early lead with good efforts either side of a low drive from Sergio Ramos that whistled inches past the post.
But Milan, who were under the cosh for swathes of the first half, missed a fantastic chance of their own to break the deadlock. Seedorf fed Pato in on goal and he took his time before tamely finishing straight at Madrid keeper Iker Casillas.
It was a let-off for Madrid who quickly punished the hosts for their profligacy. Kaka was the creator, beating two men before firing a stinging drive towards goal that Dida could only parry into the path of Benzema who calmly finished the rebound.
With Madrid in total control, Milan were handed a somewhat fortuitous route back into the encounter.
Pepe was harshly penalised for handling a cross from Zambrotta that he had little chance of avoiding and Ronaldinho stepped up to convert the penalty.
But if Milan's equaliser was lucky, good fortune deserted them minutes later when Pato broke free and planted the ball past Casillas and into the back of the net only to see his effort ruled out for an earlier infringement.
The second half lacked the sheer entertainment of the first with neither side able to break down the other in what was a more resolute display from both defences.
Massimo Ambrosini headed a Pirlo freekick well wide 10 minutes after the restart while a similar opportunity presented itself to Thiago Silva minutes later only for his header to cannon off the back of Alonso before looping over the bar.
Second half substitute Filippo Inzaghi skied a cross from Pato high over the bar from close range before seeing slicing another presentable opportunity late on.
While the nearest Madrid came to retaking the lead in the second half was a shot from another second half replacement Raul, whose effort drew a superb one-handed stop from Dida.