Alexandre Pato scored a double AC Milan edged a thrilling contest with Real Madrid 3-2 at the Bernabeu in the pick of tonight's UEFA Champions League games.

Pato saved the blushes of fellow Brazilian Dida as Milan got their Champions League challenge back on track and inflicted only a second competitive defeat of the season on their big-spending hosts. For a while, it looked as though Dida's dreadful first-half error, which allowed Raul to give Madrid a half-time lead, would cost Milan dear. However, Pato popped up in the 88th minute to volley home his side's winner and help the Italians bounce back from defeat to FC Zurich in their previous Group C match.

That was Pato's second goal of the game, as he had also put Milan ahead in the 66th minute after Andrea Pirlo's equaliser just minutes before. Royston Drenthe was the other goalscorer, making it 2-2 in the 76th minute, but his effort could not save Madrid in the battle between the two most successful sides in the history of the European Cup.

The results means seven-time European champions Milan join Real, who have won the competition a record nine times, on six points at the midway point of the group stages. Real felt that Karim Benzema should have been awarded a penalty in the 14th minute after the France striker went crashing to the ground following a challenge by Gianluca Zambrotta.

Yet the incident was forgotten five minutes later when Real took the lead following Dida's error. The Milan goalkeeper comfortably saved Esteban Granero's head-high shot but, in looking up to see where his team-mates were, he took his eye off the ball before he had complete control of it.

The subsequent fumble was pounced on by the alert Raul, who nicked the ball away from the Brazil keeper before side-footing into an empty net. It was Raul's 66th Champions League goal and completed a memorable few days for the veteran forward, who before Saturday's home game with Real Valladolid was presented with a trophy for breaking the club's appearance record.

Raul's strike was the only thing that separated the two sides at the end of a closely-fought first half, with the only other decent effort coming from Marcelo on the stroke of half-time. The dearth of chances in the first period was in stark contrast to the start of the second, when Real had four decent efforts in the opening 10 minutes.

Raul drove one wide of the far post, while Dida pluck his attempted chip out of the air. The Brazilian goalkeeper partly made amends for his first-half howler as he produced fine saves to deny former Milan favourite Kaka and tip over Benzema's shot from outside the box.

With Milan offering little going forward and Ronaldinho anonymous, it looked only a matter of time before the home side increased their lead. However, completely against the run of play, Milan not only found an equaliser but also managed to take the lead in a remarkable four-minute spell that turned the game upside down.

Although not in the same league as Dida's earlier mistake, Madrid keeper Iker Casillas may feel he could have done better with both of Milan's goals. The first saw the Spain number one beaten at his right-hand post by Pirlo's 35-yard thunderbolt, and he then raced out to meet Massimo Ambrosini's through-ball only to see the ball slide past him off the rain-soaked surface and present Pato with an open net.

Real coach Manuel Pellegrini, lacking Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Ruud van Nistelrooy through injury, opted to give Royston Drenthe a chance and the move proved to be an inspired one as the Dutchman drew Madrid level with 14 minutes to go. The former Feyenoord man has suffered from the Bernabeu boo boys in the past, but he sent the stadium into raptures as he brought down Raul's corner on the edge of the box before drilling home a low left-footed shot just inside the post.

However, that was not enough to earn Madrid a point as Milan claimed the spoils thanks to Pato's late strike. There were only two minutes remaining when Clarence Seedorf picked out the unmarked Brazilian, and he volleyed home at the far post.