Barcelona, the most successfulteam in the Champions League this season, step back into thespotlight on Wednesday looking for their 14th European win ofthe season at the Stadio Delle Alpi against Juventus.
While their arch-rivals Real Madrid finally lookedimpressive on Wednesday after beating Manchester United 3-1 inthe first leg of their quarter-final, Barcelona have beenimperious in Europe all season, winning 13 and drawing one oftheir 14 games through the qualifying round and two phases ofgroup play.
They now face a stiff test of that form, and of their dreamsof European glory against Juventus, the current Serie A leaders,in Wednesday's quarter-final first leg in Turin.
Inter Milan take on Valencia in the night's other Italy vSpain match-up, with those sides also more than capable of goingall the way to the final.
Barcelona have not enjoyed Real Madrid's recent dominationof Europe's premier competition, but have certainly stated theircase for a challenge this season.
The only European game they have failed to win was agoalless draw at Inter but that form has been in stark contrastto what has been going on domestically.
Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Villarreal was their 10th in theleague and left them in ninth place, 24 points behind leadersReal.
"We're going to have to give it everything againstJuventus," Barca's Argentine forward Javier Saviola recognised.
"It's the only competition left to us and we all know howimportant it is in the world of football. It would make a lot ofpeople in Barcelona very happy if we make it through."
Barcelona coach Radomir Antic has been unable to put a stopto the unbalanced performances since replacing Louis van Gaal onJanuary 31, but knows success in the Champions League would beenough to earn him an extension to his current contract, whichlasts only until June.
His opposite number, Marcello Lippi, signed a new two-yeardeal with Juve on Monday - reward for what looks certain to be a27th Italian league title.
In contrast, Juve's best form has come in Serie A, in whichthey lead Inter by five points. Two defeats at the hands ofManchester United and a surprise 2-1 loss to Basel have shakenconfidence at the Turin club.
However, the 3-0 home thumping by United stands out assomething of a blip, as they won their other five home games,scoring 16 goals.
Historical form is also on their side as they have lost onlythree of 12 home games against Spanish opposition - although twoof those defeats were against Barcelona.
Lippi, though, says all previous form is irrelevant. "Whenyou get to the knockout stages, often teams that haven't beenplaying well suddenly come good," he said on Tuesday. "It is notimportant how we got here only that we are here. Barcelonabelieve they can do it and so do we".
Lippi is hoping in-form Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved willpass a late fitness test, though he is definitely without Frenchstriker David Trezeguet, who has a shoulder injury.
Wednesday's other match, around 100km eastwards in Milan,sees Inter coach Hector Cuper facing the team he took to thefinal in 2000 and 2001.
Sunday's 3-3 draw with AS Roma just about ended Inter'stitle hopes and with the Valencia game followed by the Milanderby on Saturday, Cuper could be looking for another new jobvery soon.
However, the coach is unperturbed by the media speculationon his future "It is another game, another competition. There isno five points difference in the Champions League," he said.
Hernan Crespo, who has scored nine goals in eight ChampionsLeague appearances this season, is just returning to fitness andcould start on the bench.
The teams met in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup lastseason, Inter winning 2-1 on aggregate after being held to a 1-1home draw in the first leg.
The Spaniards, often cautious away from home, would probablysettle for a repeat, though they are promising otherwise."The best way to forget last season's defeat will be to beatthem at the San Siro," said midfielder Miguel Angel Angulo.
Despite the positive talk coach Rafa Benitez looks set toplay with just one striker, Norwegian John Carew, scorer of bothgoals in the 2-1 win over Arsenal that clinched Valencia'squarter-final place.