Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini claimed his team deserved to win after Tuesday's 1-1 draw with AC Milan kept the two most successful European Cup sides at the top of their Champions League group.
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Karim Benzema gave Madrid the lead when he beat goalkeeper Dida in the 29th minute, but Ronaldinho leveled for Milan with a penalty kick in the 35th.
The game matched the intensity of the teams' first meeting at the Santiago Bernabeu two weeks ago, won 3-2 by Milan. But there was a joint lack of composure when attacking after the halftime break to leave both defenses firmly in control.
Both teams have seven points in Group C, one more than Marseille, which thrashed FC Zurich 6-1 in the other game. Zurich has three points.
"I want to talk about how we played in the first half and our attitude," Pellegrini said. "Only Alexandre Pato had a chance for Milan in the first half, but in the second half Milan's style made life difficult for us.
"In the second half, we held the ball better and by the end I would say we deserved the three points."
Madrid dominated possession in the opening 20 minutes, with Sergio Ramos and Benzema both hitting low drives narrowly wide.
Milan finally came into the match in the 23rd. Clarence Seedorf led a counter attack and slipped the ball to Pato, who cut inside Raul Albiol but had his shot smothered by Iker Casillas after the goalkeeper had raced off his line.
