Kaka returns to San Siro as Real Madrid aim for revenge

AC Milan and Real Madrid will swap roles on Tuesday when they meet again in the Champions League while Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid are among 10 sides still seeking their first wins of the group phase.

AC Milan and Real Madrid will swap roles on Tuesday when they meet again in the Champions League while Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid are among 10 sides still seeking their first wins of the group phase.

Real playmaker Kaka returns to the San Siro stadium for the first time as the Spaniards visit his old club hoping to avenge their 3-2 defeat at the Bernabeu. That result prompted a dramatic turnaround in the fortunes of the two sides. AC Milans rookie Brazilian coach Leonardo,who went into the game under severe pressure,is now sitting pretty after an unbeaten seven-match run while opposite number Manuel Pellegrini is feeling the heat.

Pellegrinis position was questioned after Reals embarrassing 4-0 defeat by third-tier Alcorcon in the Kings Cup made it three games without a win.

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Defeat on Tuesday could see another storm brewing for the coach,who will again be without injured Cristiano Ronaldo. Milan and Real top Group C with six points,three ahead of Olympique Marseille and FC Zurich who meet in France.

Crisis-hit Atletico,on just one point in Group D,are unlikely to improve their record when they host in-form Chelsea. Chelsea beat the Spanish side 4-0 two weeks ago and have scored 13 goals without reply in three domestic games since. Carlo Ancelottis team have nine points,one of four teams with 100 per cent records along with Manchester United,Lyon and Sevilla.

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal may again leave Mario Gomez,the Bundesligas most expensive signing,on the bench for the visit of Group A leaders Bordeaux. Bayern are two points behind second-placed Juventus who should pick up three more at hapless Maccabi.

Close to knockout rounds

MANCHESTER: Injury-hit Manchester United can advance to the knockout round with a win over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday.

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United lead the group with nine points from three matches,with Wolfsburg in second with four and CSKA a further point behind. Last-place Besiktas hosts Wolfsburg in Tuesdays other group match. Wayne Rooney was absent from training on Monday because wife Colleen is set to give birth to their first child.Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic may miss out with ankle injuries. Ryan Giggs has a knock while Dimitar Berbatov was also missing from Mondays training session.