Pato and Ibra set wreak havoc in Madrid (Feature)

By Alberto Cagliano Oct 18, 2010, 12:33 GMT

Rome - Despite a confidence boost provided by star coach Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid fans are likely to have a fair amount of respect for AC Milan in Tuesday's Champions League tie at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Memories of the Devils' 3-2 win in Madrid date only to the past season and Brazilian Pato will again be ready to threaten world champion Iker Casillas after the brace he scored in a group-phase match last October.

After two games, Real lead Group G on six points, two more than Milan and, on a larger scale, boast two more European titles to the Devils' seven.

The Rossoneri, however, could point out that the two powerhouses are level on two titles each in the new century.

The 21-year-old Pato probably has little interest for the tournament history, but certainly keeps track of his scoring record of 45 goals from 97 games with Milan.

Looking at the season start, he is well set on improving his average playing next to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Ibra will probably shake hands with Mourinho, his former coach when they both were at Inter Milan in the 2008-09 season, but the Galacticos defence know what to expect from the gigantic Swede, who caused them serious trouble while donning the Barcelona jersey.

Last November, Ibra volleyed home the winner in a 1-0 win that Barca snatched in Madrid and this season he seems to be in even better form.

He has scored three goals in the continental tournament and two in the Serie A - half as many as Pato, who has not yet found the net in Europe.

Although Ibra scored on the weekend, it was at the wrong end. But he did provide the two assists for Pato in the 3-1 victory against Chievo.

Another ex-Barcelona ace now with the Devils is Brazilian Ronaldinho, who, despite criticism for his sluggishness, has convinced in his role behind the striking duo.

Optimism came from veteran Andrea Pirlo, a 2006 world champion midfielder who already played for the club when they won the Champions League in 2003 and 2007.

Pirlo, 31, praised new coach Massimiliano Allegri, noting that the current tactics of Milan remind him of those used under Carlo Ancelotti, the current coach of Chelsea who was at Milan from 2001 to 2009.

'We played with a 'trequartista' (a supporting striker operating at three-quarter sector of the pitch), with Kaka or (Manuel) Rui Costa. We are now beginning to play in this way, which we did for many years and which brought us many successes. I hope it is a good omen.'

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