UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:AC MILAN are beginning to find their rhythm as they prepare to face Real Madrid for the second time in the Champions League this season.
The Rossoneri had won just one of five games before facing Madrid last month, when they came from a goal down to claim a 3-2 victory at the Bernabeu, but Leonardo’s men have found some form ever since.
They have taken seven points from a possible nine in Serie A, including Saturday’s 2-0 triumph over Parma which lifted them to fourth in the standings.
The good news for the hosts is that Alessandro Nesta has recovered from a muscle injury that kept him out of Saturday’s game against Parma and will be available to face the Spaniards.
Alexandre Pato, who scored twice in the first meeting between the two, is set to lead Milan’s attack alongside Filippo Inzaghi and Ronaldinho.
Real Madrid also head into the match with renewed confidence after going some way towards redeeming themselves for last week’s humiliating Copa del Rey defeat to lowly Alcorcon.
They enjoyed a stirring derby victory over Getafe on Saturday, where they recovered from the early dismissal of defender Raul Albiol to claim a 2-0 win.
Kaka returns to the San Siro for the first time after spending five successful seasons with the Italian giants. Milan’s decision to sell Kaka proved a bitter blow for supporters, who were reluctant to see the club’s number one star leave.
Coach Manuel Pellegrini, who has received a vote of confidence from club president Florentino Perez, named a 20-man squad for the trip to Italy with Cristiano Ronaldo and Ezequiel Garay injured, and Guti and Christoph Metzelder omitted.
