As reigning champions of Europe, Real Madrid will be keen to pull rank on the young pretenders from Leeds United when the two sides fight it out for top spot in Group D of the Champions League at the Bernabeu tonight.

With Real and Leeds already assured of qualifying for the last eight, what is at stake is top spot and the added bonus of avoiding the other group winners when the draw for the quarter-finals is made.

With Real leading the group on 10 points, one ahead of Leeds, a win will ensure them of first place. But David O'Leary's team still have a chance of staging an unlikely palace coup if they come away from the Bernabeu with a victory.

In their first meeting at Elland Road in November Real gave an imperious display as second half goals from Fernando Hierro and Raul helped them brush Leeds aside. But Leeds go to the Bernabeu with nothing to lose and may just have the edge in motivation over a team that finds it all too easy to drop down a gear when the pressure is off.

Real coach Vicente Del Bosque will be forced to make at least two changes to his side and may well also take the chance to rest a few of his players ahead of the quarter-finals.

Roberto Carlos is on international duty with Brazil and is likely to be replaced by versatile Argentine international Santiago Solari on the left.

Former Barcelona player Albert Celades should slot into the central midfield role in place of the suspended Ivan Helguera. Del Bosque may also give Geremi a game and rest Hierro or Salgado, while if Manuel Sanchis plays he will become only the fifth player in history to make 100 competitive European club appearances.

Leeds have defender Danny Mills suspended and Gary Kelly not fully fit after a hernia operation while Robbie Keane is ineligible after playing for Inter Milan in the earlier stages of the competition.

Lee Bowyer and Jonathon Woodgate are out as they continue to stand trial.

Probable Teams

REAL MADRID: Casillas; Salgado, Hierro, Solari; McManaman, Claude Makelele, Celades, Figo; Raul

LEEDS UNITED: Martyn; Harte, Ferdinand, Radebe, Matteo; Bakke, Dacourt, Batty, Kewell; Viduka, Smith.

Referee: R Wojcik (Poland)