Wednesday, kick-off - 7.45pm. Stamford Bridge London. Live on Setanta Ireland and Sky Sports Xtra.

European champions– Chelsea: Never (runners-up in 2008). Juventus: 1985, 1996

The gaffers– Guus Hiddink (62) and Claudio Ranieri (57)

When last we met– The sides, oddly enough, have never met in European competition.

We meet again– Claudio Ranieri. He insists there's no hard feelings over his sacking as Chelsea manager in May 2004, but stopped somewhat short last week of predicting that himself and Roman Abramovich would exchange hugs and kisses when they meet on Wednesday.

It is, though, probably quite safe to predict that he would delight in his side removing Abramovich’s from the competition.

Whatever happens he will remain a legend, not least for his unsurpassed quotes: eg If it is the case that you need just a first 11 and three or four more players, then why did Christopher Columbus sail to India to discover America?

To this day we don’t know the answer.

Also due to meet again are Michael Ballack and Mohamed Sissoko. Two seasons ago the German collected the first red card of his career for a, well, brush with the then Liverpool midfielder at Stamford Bridge, inserting his studs in Sissokos thigh as he lay on the ground.

Ballack apologised after the game, which is probably just as well – Sissoko is looking forward to a reunion.

Mind you, after limping out of Juventus’s win over Palmero at the weekend (he scored one of their two goals) he might have to wait until the second leg.

- Mary Hannigan