Rome/Madrid - The current season has had plenty of ups and downs for AC Milan and Real Madrid, but quality football shouldn't be absent Tuesday when Europe's two most successful clubs clash in the Champions League at the Giuseppe Meazza. Milan drew level on six points with Real at the top of Group C two weeks ago after snatching a 3-2 win that gave a sudden upward turn to a fairly disappointing start to the season.
Nine-time champions Real Madrid have two more continental titles than Milan when they arrive at the Scala del calcio, as the Meazza is dubbed in reference to Milan's famed opera theatre.
The Galacticos are in good heart, as a result of Saturday's encouraging 2-0 home win over Getafe.
The never-say-die victory - achieved despite, or maybe even because of, the early sending-off of defender Raul Albiol - has lifted the clouds of pessimism away from the Estadio Bernabeu, at the same time as providing a little breathing space for embattled coach Manuel Pellegrini.
Pellegrini seemed to be the archetypal "Dead Man Walking" after last Tuesday's 4-0 cup humiliation away to part-timers Alcorcon. The Getafe win has saved the Chilean from the axe - at least for the time being.
On Sunday Real president Florentino Perez told Italian television channel RAI2, in a telephone interview, that "in the newspapers have appeared the names of good coaches (to replace Pellegrini) but we are content with Pellegrini and we are sure that he will finish the season positively."
Perez added that "we have to be patient", that "Real Madrid will enjoy a wonderful season" and that his "dream" is a Champions League final (to be played in Madrid) between Real and Milan.
Rumours also circulated a few weeks ago about Leonardo's future but his position now seems safer as Milan's game has shown gradual improvement, despite lagging nine points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan.
Moving from former player to the technical staff and finally to the bench of the Devils was daunting for the Brazilian, who last summer took his first coaching job after Carlo Ancelotti went to steer Chelsea and Kaka transferred to Real.
Milan's 2-0 win over Parma on Saturday could have been more convincing, but a brace from a fully recovered Marco Borriello sounded like a good omen for the clash with Real.
"I'm confident. The team is in the players' hands," Leonardo said. "The game with Real is one that gets prepared by itself. We hope to keep our game at a high level."
Vice-president Adriano Galliani always retained his confidence in Leonardo and sounded enthusiastic also about Ronaldinho, who after an indifferent start seems to have found his proper place as playmaker.
"Ronaldinho is doing very well. This tactical scheme gives room to the Brazilian, with (compatriot) Pato playing wide on the right," Galliani said.
"The team play in a 'Spanish way' with two midfielders and the quality of our support strikers. We score plenty of goals, some we concede, but we must have courage and keep playing like this."
Leonardo hopes to have back defence mainstay Alessandro Nesta and could consider using veteran Filippo Inzaghi up front as the 36-year- old has often been crucial in European ties.
Gonzalo Higuain will lead the Real attack at the Meazza after his two-goal return against Getafe. Pellegrini will have to decide between veteran Raul and youngster Karim Benzema alongside the Argentine.
A match within the match could take place if both Raul and Inzaghi are fielded. The two are tied on 68 goals as top strikers in UEFA competitions.
Pellegrini has again left out of his squad veteran playmaker Guti, with whom he had a well-publicized slanging match at half-time in Alcorcon. Christoph Metzelder, another player who let the side down in Alcorcon, has also been overlooked again.
Real's recent injury crisis has abated. Their only injury absentees in Milan will be Cristiano Ronaldo and Ezequiel Garay.
Defender Pepe said on Sunday that "we can win in Milan, if we have the same attitude that we showed against Getafe.
"I think that everything improved," he added. "We played well and showed a very positive attitude. Now I hope that we do the same against Milan and forget all about what happened last week."
Pepe said that "the only thing passing through our heads is to finish top of the group."
