Milan beat AS Roma 2-1 in Serie A on Sunday with Brazilian stars Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato on target to end a four-game winless run and serve notice on Madrid that tomorrow's game at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium won't be a stroll for the Spanish club.

A nine-time winner of the most prestigious European competition, Madrid has also won six of its seven Spanish league games this season. Milan, which has claimed the European title seven times, has won only three of eight and is eighth in the Serie A standings.

To make things worse for the last Italian club to have won this title, Madrid has a maximum six points from two Group C games and Milan is back in third with three. Only the top two advance to the knockout round of 16.

Madrid rebounded from its first defeat of the season with a nervy 4-2 win over Valladolid on Saturday, with captain Raul Gonzalez scoring twice. Coach Manuel Pellegrini used internationals Gonzalo Higuain and Kaka as late substitutes to keep them rested for tomorrow's match, especially Kaka who will be Madrid's most creative danger against his former club with Cristiano Ronaldo out because of injury.

Madrid knows that a victory over Milan will be a big statement.

"Real Madrid's moment of truth has arrived against a club that, like us, has won a lot of European Cups and for which we hold a lot of respect," defender Sergio Ramos said.