Madrid look to break San Siro duck

José Mourinho returns to San Siro to face AC Milan aiming to end Real Madrid CF's hoodoo at his old stamping ground – and book their place in the last 16. After beating Milan 2-0 on Matchday 3, a repeat result in Italy would ensure Madrid's progress from Group G. Even a draw would suffice should AJ Auxerre beat AFC Ajax.

• Madrid have a poor record at San Siro, however, having recorded ten defeats and three draws against the two resident teams, although Mourinho knows about winning there after two seasons as FC Internazionale Milano coach.

Previous meetings
• For the first time last season Madrid avoided away defeat against Milan after drawing 1-1 at the identical point of the group stage. Ronaldinho's penalty (35) cancelled out Karim Benzema's strike (29).

• The lineups for that encounter on 3 November last year were:
Milan: Dida, Oddo, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Pato, Seedorf, Ronaldinho, Borriello (Inzaghi 79).
Madrid: Casillas, Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Arbeloa, Lassana Diarra, Alonso, Kaká, Marcelo, Higuaín (Raúl 75), Benzema (Van Nistelrooy 82).

• Milan had previously prevailed 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabéu, Pato's second goal of the night securing victory with two minutes remaining.

• Madrid defeated Milan in the semi-finals of the inaugural European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1955/56 and in the 1963/64 quarter-finals. The teams met in the 1957/58 final, Madrid coming from behind twice to win 3-2 in Brussels. Milan beat Madrid en route to their 1988/89 (semi-finals) and 1989/90 (second round) European Cup wins.

• Milan's overall record in home meetings with Madrid is five wins and one draw.

Match background
• Milan failed to win at home in last season's UEFA Champions League – two defeats and two draws – but beat AJ Auxerre on Matchday 1. Their home record against Spanish opposition is W10 D3 L5.

• Madrid have failed to win on their last five visits to Italy. Their last success was a 3-0 win at AS Roma in the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League group stage. Their overall away record against Italian sides is W4 D6 L17.

Team ties
• Mourinho coached Inter from 2008 to 2010. He faced the Rossoneri four times in Serie A, recording three wins – including a 4-0 success in August 2009 – and one defeat.

• Clarence Seedorf made 121 Liga appearances for Los Merengues from 1996 to 1999 and has won the UEFA Champions League with both Madrid (1998) and Milan (2003, 2007).

• Kaká spent six seasons at Milan, winning the UEFA Champions League in 2006/07 and appearing 193 times in Serie A prior to his 2009 switch to Madrid.

• Xabi Alonso and Jerzy Dudek were in the Liverpool FC team that beat Milan in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final, Alonso scoring the equalising goal. Dudek saved from Andrea Pirlo in the penalty shoot-out.

• Dudek was on the bench and Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa, a late substitute, on the pitch when Milan beat Liverpool in the 2007 final with two Filippo Inzaghi goals. At Juventus, Inzaghi lost the 1998 final to Madrid.

• Robinho played for Madrid between 2005 and 2008, scoring 25 goals in 101 Liga appearances.

• Ronaldinho was at FC Barcelona from 2003 to 2008, scoring twice in a 3-0 win at the Bernabéu in November 2005. Zlatan Ibrahimović spent 2009/10 with Barcelona, hitting the only goal in last November's 1-0 home win against Madrid, while Gianluca Zambrotta was at Barça between 2006 and 2008.

• Christian Abbiati spent 2007/08 on loan at Club Atlético de Madrid.

• Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Manchester United FC in a 3-2 semi-final first-leg win against Milan in 2006/07 but lost the return 3-0.

• Mathieu Flamini played in Arsenal FC's 1-0 win at the Bernabéu in the 2005/06 round of 16 first leg.

• Flavio Roma's AS Monaco FC side lost the 2004 final to the FC Porto of Mourinho and Ricardo Carvalho.

• At UEFA EURO 2008, a Spain team containing Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos defeated an Italy side including Zambrotta and Massimo Ambrosini on penalties in the quarter-finals.