Champions League is Real Madrid's priority, says Ferguson

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has expressed his belief that Real Madrid views winning the Champions League as the club's main aim this season.

The two sides are set to go head to head at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday evening.

With Los Blancos currently 16 points shy of Liga leader Barcelona in Spain, Ferguson expects Jose Mourinho's men to be fully committed to earning the right result.

"I think their target is the European Cup,” Ferguson told the club’s official website. "They got a bad start in the league and were chasing their tail a bit because Barcelona's form has been incredible. I think Jose has set his targets firmly on the European Cup, no doubt about that.

"It can be harder for us but there's a bit of pressure for them too. At this moment in time we're involved in three things. Jose has still got the semifinal of the Copa del Rey,  they play Barca next week and then again in a league game before we play them on the Tuesday at Old Trafford. So they've got a big program themselves."