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Real hitting stride in time for Milan meeting

The Portuguese coach was brought to Spain from Inter Milan after winning the European Cup last May, with success in Europe's elite club competition top of his list of priorities.

Unbeaten so far this season, Real have two wins from two to top Champions League Group G and can all but seal a place in the last 16 with a victory over Milan.

"After seven league matches and without much time to work and improve, I am happy with the evolution and with the qualities the team are showing," Mourinho told reporters in Malaga.

"We defend quite well, we are compact, we have good ball possession. We probably have percentages of ball possession that my teams have never had before and we score goals."

"Madrid v Milan is a classic European encounter. All rivals are tough but this is perhaps our first big test of the year," Real's captain told reporters.

"You prepare completely separately for a match like the one against Madrid. We will be ready for Tuesday," he told reporters.

"For Thiago we'll see, but if he can't make it whoever goes on the field will do well all the same."

Brazil's Alexandre Pato, who scored twice at the Bernabeu in a 3-2 Champions League win last season, scored another brace against Chievo on Saturday.