AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf believes his team-mates are finally beginning to find their rhythm as they prepare to face Real Madrid for the second time in the Champions League this season.

The Rossoneri had won just one of five games before facing Madrid last month, when they came from a goal down to claim victory at the Bernabeu, but Leonardo's men have found some form ever since.

They have taken seven points from a possible nine in Serie A, including Saturday's 2-0 triumph over Parma which lifted them to fourth in the standings.

"Little by little, the team is showing its true colours," said Seedorf.

"We are happy, although we know the road is long.

"But the positive thing is that I see the team is starting to have confidence in its own ability and that is something which satisfies me."

The Rossoneri know Madrid will be eager to avenge last month's 3-2 defeat.

The result left the teams level on six points at the top of Group C after three games.

"I don't need to prepare my players for these type of games," Leonardo said.

"What we hope is to maintain the same high level as we have displayed in recent matches."

History suggests the Italian giants have reason to be optimistic as they have won all five games against Madrid at the San Siro and conceded just one goal.

The good news for the hosts is that Alessandro Nesta has recovered from a muscle injury that kept him out of Saturday's game against Parma and will be available to face the Spaniards.

Alexandre Pato, who scored twice in the first meeting between the two, is set to lead Milan's attack alongside Filippo Inzaghi and Ronaldinho.

Madrid also head into the match with renewed confidence after going some way towards redeeming themselves for last week's humiliating Copa del Rey defeat to lowly Alcorcon.

They enjoyed a stirring derby victory over Getafe on Saturday, where they recovered from the early dismissal of defender Raul Albiol to claim a 2-0 win.

Madrid had plenty of heroes in that match but it was striker Gonzalo Higuain who stood out, netting both his side's goals and only narrowly missing out on a sensational 12-minute hat-trick after seeing another shot strike the post.

The Argentinian could hardly have picked a better time to produce such a performance, with both Madrid and coach Manuel Pellegrini under intense pressure following three defeats in five games.

But the 21-year-old dismissed any suggestion he is the team's "saviour".

"I had the fortune to score two goals, but the team played a great match and we won thanks to the effort of everyone," he said in Marca.

"I'm not the saviour. I don't like that. I'm very happy because you don't score two goals every day, but I'm not the saviour at all. The merit goes to the team."

Saturday's match was only Higuain's fourth start of the season in all competitions, partly due to injury, but Madrid fans are eager to see the former River Plate hitman keep his place in the side for tomorrow's game with Milan.

When asked if he would be disappointed to be back on the bench at the San Siro, Higuain said: "I'm calm, it's not something I'm obsessing about. Obviously I want to play, because it's a special game, but the coach is the one who makes the decisions.

"I always want to play, but at Madrid there are many players and we are all ready to play."

Coach Pellegrini, who received a vote of confidence from club president Florentino Perez, named a 20-man squad for the trip to Italy with Cristiano Ronaldo and Ezequiel Garay injured, and Guti and Christoph Metzelder omitted.