The latest intriguing duel between friendly rivals and master tacticians Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho will take place today as Manchester United and Real Madrid resume battle in the Champions League.
The match at Old Trafford, which is evenly poised after a 1-1 first-leg draw in Madrid, is the outstanding game in Europe this week as the Champions League tempo increases with three other round-of-16 ties being decided.
Juventus, 3-0 up after a superb first-leg win at Celtic, are favourites to reach the quarter-finals, while Paris St Germain, who won 2-1 at Valencia in the first leg, are in the box seat to complete the job at home.
The second leg between Borussia Dortmund and Shakhtar Donetsk starts level after they drew the first leg 2-2 in Ukraine, but Dortmund, tipped by some as potential Champions League winners, also start as the favourites to advance.
At Old Trafford, Ryan Giggs is expected to make his 1,000th competitive appearance in games for United, Wales and the British Olympic side, and former United favourite Cristiano Ronaldo will be determined to ruin his old team-mate’s landmark day.
The two teams are in great form and only the finest of margins are likely to separate them.
United, having thrashed Norwich 4-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday, are leading the Premier League standings with a com-fortable margin.
Real have re-discovered their old verve with two morale-boosting wins over arch-rivals Barcelona last week, beating them 3-1 in the King’s Cup and 2-1 in La Liga.
“Obviously these victories are good for the morale of the squad because now we have a tough Champions League match coming up,” Real defender Sergio Ramos, who headed the winner in Saturday’s win, said.
Real, with their nine European Cup successes, and United, with three, have long been among Europe’s aristocrats.
As are Juventus, who have had a roller-coaster history since lifting the European Cup for the second time in 1996.
They are now back on the rise and barring a total upset at home tomorrow are poised to see off Celtic and reach the last eight for the first time since 2006.
Juve, who have no injury worries, are six points clear of Napoli at the top of Serie A after their 1-1 draw on Friday and well on course to defend their league title.
Their recent European record is also outstanding. They have not lost for 17 matches since a 4-1 defeat at Fulham in the Europa League in 2010.
Since then they have won eight and drawn nine European games and have not conceded a goal in their last four Champions League matches.
Borussia Dortmund face a highly-skilled and difficult-to-beat Shakhtar Donetsk side tonight.
Dortmund lost to Bayern Munich in the German Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, but bounced straight back with a confidence-boosting 3-1 victory over Hanover on Saturday.
Defender Mats Hummels, who scored in the first leg and has been out with flu, could be back after missing two games.
Shakhtar are likely to have Oleksandr Kucher back to partner Yaroslav Rakytsky in the centre of defence replacing Dmytro Chygrynsky.
Kucher headed the second as Shakhtar thrashed Volyn Lutsk 4-1 in the Ukrainian League that resumed on Friday after a three-month winter break.
David Beckham could return to Champions League action for PSG’s home game against Valencia tomorrow, with the French side 2-1 ahead from the first leg.
The 37-year-old former England captain said last week: “It is a while since I played in the Champions League so I am excited.
“It’s a big game for the club, and we are ahead, but that does not mean it is going to be easy.”
PSG prepared in the worst possible way for the Valencia clash, losing 1-0 at ten-man Stade Reims on Saturday.
The round of 16 will be completed next week with the remaining four ties when Barcelona will be seeking to overturn a 2-0 first-leg defeat at Milan.
LAST 16 – second legs
Playing Today
Man. United Vs Real Madrid(First Leg: 1-1)
B. Dortmund Vs S. Donetsk(First Leg: 2-2)
Tomorrow
Juventus Vs Celtic (First Leg: 3-0)
Paris St Germain Vs Valencia (First Leg: 2-1)
March 12
Schalke 04 Vs Galatasaray (First Leg: 1-1)
Barcelona Vs Milan (First Leg: 0-2)
March 13
Malaga Vs Porto (First Leg: 0-1)
Bayern Munich Vs Arsenal (First Leg: 3-1)