Two big-spending outfits go head-to-head in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, with Paris St Germain taking on Chelsea.
A battle of the billionaire owners is set to be staged over two legs – the first of which will take place in the French capital on Wednesday.
PSG have made rapid progress since the Qatar Investment Authority took control at Parc des Princes and now feel that they are ready to stake a serious claim for continental honours.
They are the reigning Ligue 1 champions and appear to be well on course to defend that crown in 2013/14, having opened up a 13-point lead at the summit.
Led by the enigmatic Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and with added creativity provided by the likes of Edinson Cavani, Yohan Cabaye and Ezequiel Lavezzi, PSG have suffered just two defeats in all competitions this season.
They have won their last nine games in a row, plundering 22 goals and conceding just three.
That is the size of the task facing Chelsea as they prepare to head out on the road in Europe – to a stadium in which their opponents have been virtually untouchable this term.
Jose Mourinho is, however, a two-time Champions League winner and knows what it takes to grind out results in testing situations.
He has seen the Blues suffer a couple of domestic wobbles of late, dropping them off the top of the Premier League table, but Galatasaray were ruthlessly disposed of in the last 16 of European competition and a two-trophy haul remains very much on the cards.
Mourinho may be slightly concerned that his side have collected only one victory in their last six away games in all competitions, but heading back to west London still in a tie with in-form PSG would set things up nicely for a return date at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday.
PSG
Paris St Germain captain Thiago Silva
suffered a broken cheekbone against FC Lorient last week, but the
Brazilian defender will take to the field wearing a protective mask.
His fellow countryman and centre-half partner Alex was rested for Friday’s 1-0 victory over Nice, but he could come back into Laurent Blanc’s plans for a meeting with his former club.
Midfielders Marco Verratti and Blaise Matuidi were also benched for PSG’s last outing, but both are expected to return to the starting XI on Wednesday.
Chelsea
Fernando Torres is likely to be tasked
with leading Chelsea's forward line after the Blues travelled to France
without the injured Samuel Eto'o – who is nursing a hamstring complaint.
Left-back Ashley Cole (knee) continues to be absent, while Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah are ineligible having represented Benfica and Basel earlier in the competition. Ramires is available despite his continuing domestic suspension for his sending off in the controversial loss at Aston Villa.
Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, Petr Cech's deputy, has travelled despite not being able to take his place on the bench at Crystal Palace on Saturday due to illness. Young Dutchman Nathan Ake has also made the trip.
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