Since Milan's triumph under Carlo Ancelotti in Athens 17 years ago Madrid have won the Champions League six times, three of those victories coming with Ancelotti in the dugout.
Antonio Conte's resurgent side wrapped the match up inside the first half, courtesy of an early Romelu Lukaku goal and a sensational strike by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Defender Gabbia rose highest to thump home Tijjani Reijnders' free-kick in the 89th minute and give Milan a Serie A win which pulls them out of a miserable early season slump.
Inter and AC Milan on Friday rejected the project to modernise and restructure the iconic San Siro stadium which they share, city mayor Giuseppe Sala announced.
"Winning is hard but staying up there is even harder. We had to bounce back after drawing at Genoa and we managed to do that," said Darmian to Sky Sport.
Pioli left Milan after the 19-time Italian champions finished second last season, 19 points behind champions Inter Milan, and following lacklustre runs in the Champions League and the domestic cups.
The 37-year-old Giroud leaves as a big fan favourite and will be remembered in particular for scoring key goals in Milan's 2022 Serie A triumph, the only trophy he won in his three years in Italy.
The Milan board paid a warm tribute in the farewell statement to 58-year-old Italian Pioli.
Olivier Giroud confirmed on Monday that he will leave AC Milan at the end of the season to end his long career in Major League Soccer.
AS Roma and AC Milan shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday after a stoppage-time goal by visiting winger Alexis Saelemaekers cancelled out a Tammy Abraham strike three minutes earlier as the Serie A top-four race intensifies.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's injury-hit season could be at an end after AC Milan said on Saturday that the Sweden international has picked up a knock to his right calf.
On a high from helping to set up a Milan derby Champions League semi-final with an incredible assist for tie-winner Olivier Giroud on Tuesday night, Leao headed his team in front in the 40th minute at the San Siro before slinking his way past two Lecce defenders and rolling home the second with 18 minutes remaining
Leaders Napoli were held to a goalless home draw by relegation-threatened Hellas Verona in Serie A on Saturday as Luciano Spalletti's side finished winless for the third time in their last four games in all competitions.
Ismael Bennacer gave AC Milan a slim advantage in their all-Italian Champions League quarterfinal against Napoli with the only goal in Wednesday's tight 1-0 first-leg win.
Milan have 51 points, one ahead of fourth-placed Inter Milan, and are four behind second-placed Lazio. Napoli are 20 points clear at the top
Milan missed the chance to jump to second and remained fourth with 48 points, a point clear of fifth-placed AS Roma, who play Lazio on Sunday
Manchester City will take on Bayern Munich in the most intriguing quarterfinal of the Champions League this season.
AC Milan's veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was named on Thursday in Sweden's squad for this month's Euro 2024 qualifiers, when he could break Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff's age record.
"I like to think there’s nothing impossible in sport," Pioli said