Clash of titans

Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Robin van Persie are expected to headline the historic rivalry between Real Madrid and Manchester on Wednesday. [Photo/Agencies]

Real hosts Manchester United in 'the match the world is waiting for', AFP reports.

The world's richest soccer clubs Real Madrid and Manchester United meet on Wednesday in a Champions League last 16 first-leg tie described by Jose Mourinho as "the match the world is waiting for". Alex Ferguson takes his United side to the Spanish capital after extending its lead at the top of the Premier League to 12 points with Sunday's 2-0 win at home to Everton.

"The world is not waiting for other matches in the Champions League so I hope we can give the world what they are waiting for," said Madrid boss Mourinho.

The meeting also marks the latest instalment in the Ferguson-Mourinho duel with the Scot emerging triumphant last time the pair locked horns as United dispatched Mourinho's former employer Inter Milan 2-0 on aggregate at the same stage of the 2008-09 competition.

His current Madrid side is 16 points behind Barcelona in La Liga and only the delivery of a 10th Champions League title to the famous old club would be enough to appease his critics.

Mourinho's reign at Madrid has been a tumultuous one this season, with a series of dressing room disputes between the Portuguese coach and his players.

However, one of the club's captains, Sergio Ramos, feels the tension in the Madrid camp has been overplayed and his team is motivated for the United game.

"It's more a case of things that people said that weren't true than a reality of conflicts in the dressing room," Ramos told English Sunday newspaper The Observer.

"If there are problems in the dressing room or if the relationship is bad and stories are published that can create issues and affect you, it generates a problem.

"But when there are no problems and people invent it, it does not matter," said Ramos, who was dropped by Mourinho and told to train apart from the squad for several weeks earlier this season.

Despite the problems, Madrid is enjoying some good form, losing only once in 12 outings in all competitions, and it is two years since it lost a Champions League game at the Santiago Bernabeu when Barcelona was the victor.

Cristiano Ronaldo will face his old club on the back of another hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Sevilla on Saturday and his attacking partner, Gonzalo Higuain, is convinced the side can beat United in the Bernabeu.

"With our individual quality and counter-attacking play we can do a lot of damage to United. We have to keep it solid at the back and find our winning mentality and team spirit," he said.

Madrid is almost at full strength and the inclusion or not of Portuguese centerhalf Pepe is Mourinho's big dilemma.

Pepe has recovered from an ankle injury in time, but has not played a minute since the turn of the year and only started training again last week.

United rested Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Ashley Young and Shinji Kagawa against Everton, but with rival Manchester City losing on Saturday, Ferguson did not introduce the wholesale changes he had promised.

United is undefeated in 14 games and Ferdinand told UEFA.com that former teammate Ronaldo is the key man to stop.

"You get as many people around the ball when he's got it as possible, but Madrid are that good a side you have to make sure you're set up right and that your teammates are in good positions all over the pitch to defend.

"The fans appreciated him when he was here and since he's been gone they sing his name. He came here a young boy and left a world-class player. He showed a lot of respect when he left and still does," Ferdinand said.