Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo hopes this could be the season they finally re-establish themselves on the European stage as he dreams of winning the Champions League again before he retires.
Juve’s maestro has been helping steer them towards a fourth successive Italian title, yet the gulf between a fading Serie A and the Champions League is so great that they are not seen as a major threat to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich.
Juve were comprehensively outclassed by Munich in the quarter-finals two seasons ago and failed to make it beyond the group stage last term.
With Paul Pogba and Carlos Tevez attracting interest from abroad, and 37-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon still agile, this campaign could be the last real chance of European glory for the current Juventus team as they prepare to host Borussia Dortmund in their last 16 first leg tie tonight.
At the heart of their challenge is Pirlo, who will be 36 when this year’s final comes around but who continues to work wonders as his breathtaking winner against Atalanta on Friday demonstrated.
“I came to Juve in order to win and we achieved that,” Pirlo, who won the Champions League twice with Milan, told reporters.
“I am very happy about that but now we must make the next step up the ladder. I’d like to win another Champions League before retiring.”
Coach Massimiliano Allegri recognises Pirlo’s enduring importance, saying: “He gives the team great shape and, above all, is a point of reference when the team is under pressure.
“Andrea has two magic feet. When he strikes with his right foot he gives the ball an incredible flight.”
The first meeting between Juve and Borussia Dortmund since the 1997 Champions League final, which the Germans won 3-1, now provides the acid test for the Italian champions.
Although Juergen Klopp’s side have struggled in the Bundesliga, their European form has been excellent as they sailed through their group by winning their opening four games.
They have also won their last three games, suggesting the early-season woes are ancient history.
Juve have not lost a home game in any competition since Bayern Munich beat them 2-0 two years ago, the last time a German side visited the Juventus stadium.
“We will not fall into the trap of confusing Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga status with their real quality,” said Pirlo.
Elsewhere, Manchester City have been on a steep learning curve in the Champions League but today’s clash with four-times European kings Barcelona offers a chance to show they are now serious contenders.
Last season’s exit at the identical stage also against Barcelona, 4-1 on aggregate, revealed Manchester City’s shortcomings in a squad good enough to win the Premier League but still lacking authority and discipline against Europe’s very best.
Toure’s absence
A year later, however, and City are approaching the tie with growing optimism, even if they will be missing midfield talisman Yaya Toure at the Etihad as he completes a three-match suspension for his red card against CSKA Moscow.
After finding their creative edge blunted in recent months, City’s attacking flair returned with a vengeance as they crushed Newcastle United 5-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.
In contrast, Barca’s lethal-looking frontline misfired badly at the weekend as their 11-match unbeaten run ended in a surprise 1-0 defeat by a well-drilled Malaga side.
City’s run to the last 16 a year ago was their best effort in the competition after two successive failures to survive the group stage and they will be buoyed by the way they sneaked into the knockout round this time, beating Bayern Munich and Roma.
Both of those victories were recorded without Toure.
In Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Samir Nasri, Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City side can score goals but keeping Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez quiet, as well as having 11 men on the pitch unlike last season, will be the key.
Messi scored in both legs last term and has recently been in scintillating form again, even if he was subdued against Malaga.
The Last 16
Playing today – 20.45
Man. City vs Barcelona
Juventus vs B. Dortmund
Second legs – March 18
Tomorrow – 20.45
Arsenal vs Monaco
B. Leverkusen vs Atl. Madrid
Second legs – March 17
Already played
Paris SG vs Chelsea - 1-1
S. Donetsk vs B. Munich - 0-0
Second legs – March 11
Basel vs Porto - 1-1
Schalke vs Real Madrid - 0-2
Second legs – March 10