Factfile for the eye-catching clashes

Real Madrid (ESP) vs Manchester United (ENG)

REAL MADRID

Coach: Jose Mourinho (POR)

Champions League/European Cup best: winner (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002)

Despite breaking Barcelona's stranglehold in La Liga last season, all is not well at Real Madrid, who was eclipsed by Borussia Dortmund in Group D and has been left for dead by Barca in the league. Jose Mourinho's days at the club appear numbered, but his record in this competition is unparalleled.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Coach: Alex Ferguson (SCO)

Champions League/European Cup best: winner (1968, 1999, 2008)

Knocked out in the group phase last season, Manchester United finished top of Group H despite two defeats and several wobbly defensive performances.

Former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has taken to life at Old Trafford like a duck to water and United's recent 3-2 win at Manchester City gave it a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

AC Milan (ITA) vs Barca (ESP)

AC MILAN

Coach: Massimiliano Allegri (ITA)

Champions League/European Cup best: winner (1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007)

After a glut of important players left the club in the close season, Milan has struggled, falling 14 points off the pace in the league and losing to Malaga and Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Champions League group phase. Still, it boasts an impressive European pedigree and one of the most exciting young talents in Europe - Stephan El Shaarawy.

BARCELONA

Coach: Tito Vilanova (ESP)

Champions League/European Cup best: winner (1992, 2006, 2009, 2011)

Despite being eliminated by Chelsea in the semifinals last season, Barcelona remains the team to beat, having won the competition twice in the past four years. Tito Vilanova had made an assured start to life at Nou Camp since succeeding Pep Guardiola, thanks in no small part to the continued brilliance of Lionel Messi, but now faces a six-week lay-off after cancer surgery.

AFP

(China Daily 12/21/2012 page22)