Match Report: Real Madrid 2-4 AC Milan

Madrid ended the year with defeat in Dubai but that will not concern Carlo Ancelotti and his men as they bring to a close a 2014 to remember for Madridistas.

Ancelotti's former club AC Milan edged out the European champions in a friendly match that was more about the money and exposure than the result. Madrid just wanted to get through the contest unscathed with a tough January ahead.

Stephan El Shaarawy bagged a brace of goals for the Italians after Jeremy Menez had opened the scoring. Giampaolo Pazzini came off the bench to bag Milan's fourth and seal the friendly victory.

Cristiano Ronaldo ensured the supporters got value for money with a goal and Karim Benzema made it a slightly more respectable scoreline by blasting home a late penalty.

Ancelotti tinkered with his team with players such as Iker Casillas, Pepe, Toni Kroos, Benzema and Bale starting on the bench, while former Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez started in goal for the Italians and there was no Fernando Torres, who will sign for Atletico Madrid on loan on January 5.

Los Blancos went into the game on the back of a record 22 straight victories in all competitions but the defeat will mean nothing in the long run as Madrid get back to the serious action next weekend at Valencia in La Liga.

Madrid were second best to a Milan side sitting seventh in Serie A and, with respect, the contest will have meant more to the Italians on the pitch.

For Madrid, it gave the players a chance to keep their fitness ticking over ahead of this weekend's return, despite the long journey, and little else. Off the pitch, of course, it meant extra revenue and exposure in a time of Financial Fair Play.

Madrid: Navas, Arbeloa, Coentrao, Varane, Nacho, Illarra, Isco, Khedira, Jese, Ronaldo, Hernandez. Subs: Casillas, Pacheco, Pepe, Kroos, Benzema, Rodriguez, Bale, Carvajal, Raul de Tomas, D. Llorente, M. Llorente.

Milan: Diego Lopez, Bonera, Mexes, Zapata, Albertazzi, Montolivo, De Jong, Muntari, Bonaventura, Menez, El Shaarawy. Subs: Agazzi, Abbiati, Pazzini, Rami, Essien, Poli, Niang, Saponara, Armero, Dias, Da Costa, Zaccardo, Mastour.