The biggest night yet

Ten of the best
After their third triumph in five years last season, Madrid have a tenth European Champion Clubs' Cup in their sights – a record that, should they achieve it, would double the haul of their closest rivals AC Milan. United, meanwhile, have the added incentive of a final at their Old Trafford home.

Make or break
For Sir Alex Ferguson's side, the match is the second in a run of six games that will do much to determine whether they go two seasons without a trophy for the first time in over a decade, or clinch only the fourth English league and European Cup double.

Good start
The first of that run went well enough as they beat Liverpool FC 4-0 on Saturday, and with games against Newcastle United FC, Arsenal FC and Blackburn Rovers FC to come before the second leg, Ferguson will be hoping his side can recapture the spirit that carried them through a similarly gruelling spell when they won a league, cup and Champions League treble in 1999.

Double blow
United, though, must do without the injured Juan Sebastián Verón and the suspended Phil Neville, while Roberto Carlos has been cleared to play for Madrid despite his sending-off for Brazil against Portugal on Saturday.

Domestic bliss
While United trail Arsenal FC on goal difference at the top of the Premiership, Madrid have a six-point lead over their nearest rivals in the Primera División. Even so, Madrid's Raúl González believes there is little to choose between the sides. "We are the best two teams in Europe in terms of the way we play, the goals we score and the way we conduct ourselves on the pitch," he said. "Either of us can win on the other team's ground, that's why the tie is so hard to predict."

Young guns
The other quarter-final is no less fascinating as AFC Ajax coach Ronald Koeman leads his young side against AC Milan, who are just stuttering after a hugely impressive start to the season.

Welcome return
Jari Litmanen, who was part of the Ajax team that beat Milan in the 1995 final, is included in the squad after recovering from an achilles injury, a return that takes on even greater significance in the light of Andy van der Meyde's suspension.