In contrast, Inter stumbled through to the last 16 in wholly unconvincing fashion, suggesting the coach with the Midas touch was right to bet the Italians would not be able to repeat the highs of last season's glorious treble.
However, the Portuguese, whose only blot was a one-game ban for ordering two of his team to pick up deliberate yellow cards thus ruling them out of the final group stage game, knows the Champions League is never won in December.
"We are prepared, in good form and focused on the Champions League," Real's Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored one against Auxerre as Karim Benzema hit a hat-trick, told reporters.
"We know all our opponents are tough."
Inter were the only unit able to stop Pep Guardiola's side last season but their chances of similar success this term look doomed. Certainly their fans will say they can play no worse.
Rafael Benitez is clinging to his job after Tuesday's 3-0 loss at Werder Bremen, albeit in a dead game, and he must hope the club's top scorer last season, Diego Milito, can prosper after injury and boost their European and domestic hopes.
Ronaldinho's glory years are also now just a distant memory.
"I am calm about staying at Milan, I only want to do my best to help the team," the 30-year-old Brazilian, no longer a regular at the Serie A leaders, told Milan Channel after speculation of a Janaury move.
"I feel the affection and love of the fans even when I don't play. It's an important year."
The three big English sides, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, are not in top form and must improve while Tottenham Hotspur are the competition's joint-top scorers, but their shaky defence will be severely tested in the knockout format.
Last term's runners-up Bayern Munich have again quietly made it through and Wednesday's 3-0 win over Basel when already qualified shows their Champions League hunger remains despite domestic woes.
