Real Madrid and Manchester United's European Champions Cup quarterfinal first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium today is a glamorous matchup between the world's two most famous soccer clubs.
Defending champion Madrid has won the continent's top club competition a record nine times, while United, which has won the trophy twice, is the wealthiest club on earth.
The powerhouses have been paired three times previously in the Champions Cup, with the victorious team going on to win the competition each time.
``This is a game between two teams with great world prestige and who have been leaders in the sport over recent years. Although we have dominated in Europe, Manchester has been right up there. It has great players,'' Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque said on Monday.
The Spanish club's captain Fernando Hierro said that the teams' similar offensive styles promised an attractive encounter.
``It could be the final,'' Hierro told the club's official Web site, www.realmadrid.com.
``Both of us goes out to attack right from the first minute. Attacking is the philosophy which unites us. Neither of us likes to play for a result. This makes the game, in theory, one of the best matches you can see in Europe.''
United coach Alex Ferguson said Monday that the match would be ``fantastic'' as long as his team can ``perform the way it can.''
``Madrid has some fantastic players and we have to recognize that. But we have to look at the match-winners of our own. We have to be brave and enjoy it. If we go there afraid of the names in their side, we will be afraid all night,'' he said.
The teams first met in 1957 when Madrid defeated United 5-3 on aggregate in the semifinals and went on to lift the trophy for the second time.
The second encounter in 1967/1968 brought a 4-3 semifinal victory for the English giant, which gained its first European triumph a month later.
The most recent pairing came in the quarterfinals three years ago when Madrid gained a 3-2 second-leg win at Old Trafford to eliminate defending champion United. Again Madrid emerged as champion.
``In terms of the way we approached European games, that match was a defining moment. We played with our heart instead of our heads. If we had shown more patience I'm sure we would have gone through but I'm confident it won't happen again,'' Ferguson said.
Only five players from each starting lineup remain from the goalless first leg at the Bernabeu stadium in 2000.
Madrid retains goalkeeper Iker Casillas, defenders Michel Salgado, Ivan Helguera and Roberto Carlos, together with striker Raul Gonzalez. Hierro, now 35, was injured then but is set to play today.
United has kept right back Gary Neville, midfielders Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and winger Ryan Giggs.
Since then, both teams have added an array of world-class stars.
Since then, Madrid's president Florentino Perez has bought Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo.
United has incorporated 'keeper Fabian Barthez, midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and defender Rio Ferdinand.
TV; ESPN, 1pm: UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid CF vs. Manchester United
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