Real ready to finish the job at Old Trafford

Holders Real Madrid should book their place in the Champions League semi-finals at the expense of Manchester United on Wednesday as two of the world's most famous clubs do battle at Old Trafford.

Real, leading 3-1 after a masterclass display at the Bernabeu two weeks ago, ought to weather the storm on a night when AC Milan will also look to reach the last four, having held Ajax Amsterdam to a 0-0 draw in the Netherlands.

Victory for the Spanish giants would line up a semi-final with Juventus, who beat Barcelona 2-1 after extra time in Spain on Tuesday, while Milan would take on Inter, who got through on away goals despite losing 2-1 at Valencia in their second leg.

Real may not have their main striker Raul, after the Spanish international had emergency surgery on Monday for acute appendicitis, but his team mates should still avoid the 2-0 defeat United must inflict to qualify.

The absence of Raul, who scored once a fortnight ago and twice when Real beat United 3-2 at Old Trafford at the same stage of the competition in 2000, will be a setback.

But coach Vicente del Bosque has alternatives such as Guti and Fernando Morientes to partner Ronaldo up front.

United also still have the problem of containing Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo in the middle and preventing Roberto Carlos from flying down the left flank.

United are also an attack-minded side and even without suspended midfielder Paul Scholes are likely to find the back of the Real net.

Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy managed the feat at the Bernabeu and Norwegian goal poacher Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also ready to lend a hand.

But as manager Alex Ferguson told the Manchester Evening News on the eve of the game, the key lies in his defenders being able to cope with the world's footballing elite.

"This is a test for them," Ferguson said.

"If they are going to class themselves as top defenders then this is the test and it will be the biggest one they've ever had. There is no doubt about it. They didn't perform properly in Madrid. They were disappointing and they know that themselves."

Ajax will also be unhappy that they failed to make the most of home advantage by scoring against Milan a fortnight ago, though they did at least deny Carlo Ancelotti's team an away goal.

Ajax coach Ronald Koeman has injury worries in midfield and, in particular, is sweating on the fitness of Rafael van der Vaart after the gifted young playmaker suffered concussion during a league game at the weekend.

Ancelotti also has injury problems in the middle of the park, but is convinced his team can get through at the San Siro.

"We need to have patience and not panic," he told reporters. "It will be important to keep possession and take the game in hand much more than we did in the first leg."

Ancelotti, who will be counting on strike pairing Filippo Inzaghi and Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko to do the damage, added: "We haven't failed in the big games in Europe and we want to continue like that".