PSG have left both Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani on the bench, perhaps hoping to spring Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele in behind. A start for Marco Asensio is something of a surprise but the ex-Real Madrid man should offer creativity.

There’s so much of intrigue tonight, but how about the story of Pau Cubarsi, who becomes the youngest defender to start a Champions League quarter-final. Barely 17, the centre-half has shot to prominence this year and was so impressive in the round of 16 second leg against Napoli – but dealing with Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele will represent a considerable test.

Down in the Spanish capital, meanwhile, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are readying themselves for Champions League combat in a fixture that represents a lost era, as Miguel Delaney explains:

Luis Enrique and Xavi will reunite in the technical area tonight, two Barcelona midfield greats on opposite sides in this tie. The pair are former colleagues, of course, Enrique engineering a treble in 2015 with Xavi still a key cog at the Catalan club.

Enrique pricked the ears up of the Spanish press when he suggested yesterday that he represented the values of Barcelona better than their current coach.

“I represent the Barca way better, although others may have different opinions,” said Enrique ahead of tonight’s first leg. “Just look at all the stats and the trophies won.

“I have to say that I don’t know Xavi at all as a coach, only as a team-mate and as a player because I worked with him.

“I know Barca very well and I know their players but I don’t know if that is an advantage or not. Emotionally this means a lot to me because of my experiences there.”

With Achraf Hakimi absent, It appears that club captain Marquinhos may be deployed on the right of PSG’s back four.

PSG XI: Donnarumma; Marquinhos, Beraldo, Lucas Hernandez, Nuno Mendes; Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Kang in Lee; Asensio, Mbappe, Dembele.

Frenkie de Jong is fit to start in midfield for Barcelona, with Pedri back among the substitutes.

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Cubarsi, Araujo, Cancelo; Gundogan, De Jong, Roberto; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.

On to tonight, then, and a familiar fixture that has given us a couple of classic Champions League moments. Remember 2017? Miguel Delaney does.

The two clubs, meeting in the knockout stages for the third successive season, played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg of their last-eight tie at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

The competition’s record 14-time winners now face a tough battle to see off the holders at the Etihad Stadium.

City have not lost in 30 Champions League outings at home in a sequence stretching back to September 2018 and thrashed Real 4-0 at the ground last year.

Valverde, who secured the draw with a fine late volley, said: “There’s always a first time.

“You always have to believe, to have conviction, us especially. We are the first to believe it can be done.

“We have to work hard, every player has to give everything in every ball and if we all pull in the same direction I think we can do it.

“It’s very even. We’re two of the best in the Champions League. They have that plus of playing at home, but we’re going to fight, as we always do.

“We have lots of players who have won five Champions Leagues. We have to make that count.”

Managing minutes will be a key, though, for Pep Guardiola in a hectic run-in as Mancheter City bid to defend both their domestic and continental crowns.