A 3-0 for Tito

The Barcelona squad is eager to turn around its Champions League last 16 tie and qualify for the quarter-finals for a number of reasons. The first and most obvious one is that it's a squad that is used to winning and getting knocked out by AC Milan would be a bitter pill to swallow.

However, there are other incentives and one of those is emotive. They want to dedicate qualification to Tito Vilanova. They want to repay all their coach's efforts.

Vilanova, who is currently undergoing treatment for his illness in New York, hasn't stopped working and looking for ways for his team to win every game it plays. The players are aware of their coach's efforts and want to repay them.

There have been a number of meetings in recent weeks between the team captains and between the squad as a whole. They all agree in the message they're sending out. The dressing room wants to be believed in because it feels it can turn the tie on its head and pull off an epic comeback.

Xavi already explained as much. Having won every title possible since Guardiola and Vilanova's arrival, the squad now has to show that it knows how to suffer and win an epic victory. It's time for each player to prove his commitment and make it clear that it is still far too early to talk about the end of an era.

'Los Blancos' must use heads to win

Real Madrid heads into the crucial return leg against Manchester United with all guns blazing. One strong area is the team's aerial threat and from the 15 goals the Spanish outfit has scored in the last eight games, five have been headers from dead-ball situations.

Real's newly acquired danger has been the team's Achilles' heel for the majority of the season until recently, but the tactic has helped the side achieve some decisive victories. Two headed goals by Raphael Varane killed off Barcelona in the Copa del Rey and another by Sergio Ramos handed Real victory in the 'El Clásico' in La Liga.

Madrid's equalising goal in the Champions League first leg against United was also a header- courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo. Then there was another goal of the same style against Rayo Vallecano by Ramos at the Santiago Bernabéu.

It seems 'Los Blancos' have stumbled across the perfect strategy to help the team through a recent spell of matches. This may well prove to be useful for the crunch tie at Old Trafford, when the team will need to draw on all its resources in order to turn the tie on its head.

However, Real still needs to improve its defending of set-pieces, as the team has conceded 14 goals from dead-ball situations so far this campaign, including the one scored by Danny Welbeck at the Bernabéu.

A 'Clásico' for the world

Having been rescheduled for the unusual time of 4 p.m. on Saturday, the second league meeting of the season between Real Madrid and Barcelona will be the first 'Clásico' to be suitable for TV audiences almost all over the world. Fine, there will be no Champions League anthem, no Spanish Super Cup trophy or cup final place up for grabs, and the result won't affect the league title race, but it is still a 'Clásico'.

There are plenty of reasons to head down to the Bernabéu or switch on the TV on Saturday afternoon. On the evidence of the midweek cup clash, the 16-point league gap between the teams is something of a red herring. What's more, Barça is licking its wounds after being swatted aside on its own patch and will be raring to return the favour.

This will be only the third full house at the Santiago Bernabéu this season, coming after the first leg of the 'Copa' semi-final and the Champions League first leg against Manchester United. The Real Madrid fans are flying after the win at the Camp Nou, meaning any spare tickets have been snapped up like hotcakes.

The early-afternoon slot will allow the match to be viewed across the world, including at prime time in Asia. Fans in Beijing will be able to tune in at 11 p.m., rather than at 4 a.m., as they would have had to do for Tuesday's cup clash.

It will also be eminently watchable across the Atlantic, kicking off at midday Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo time and at 10 a.m. in New York (where Tito Vilanova will be watching). In the UAE, another important market, the clash will get underway at 6 p.m.

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