They meet again. For the fourth time in a year, Barcelona and Chelsea lock horns in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. As in previous episodes, expect goals, outrageous skills and controversy, all the ingredients for great drama. Twelve months ago at Stamford Bridge, it was the English champions who won the day at the end of a fascinating double feature, but this time filming takes place at the Nou Camp and the Catalan giants, 2-1 up from the first leg, are calling the shots.

Very little has changed among the make up of either side since those adventures of last season. Virtually the same actors are playing the same roles as they did then. Barcelona had won the opening duel 2-1, coming back from a goal down after Chelsea had had a player sent off with Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o scoring the winner with a bullet header.

Then, as now, the comments of Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho piqued press curiosity and although it was hardly necessary, the Portuguese has managed, like the most entrepreneurial of prizefighters, to build up the rematch.

"What changed everything was not a goal it was playing 10 against 11 when we shouldn't have been," Mourinho told reporters after the first leg referring to the sending off of Asier Del Horno.

After a tense first half, the ten Blues grabbed the lead in the 59th minute when Motta, challenged by John Terry, put through his own net. The Spanish champions responded with Terry flicking Ronaldinho's vicious free kick past his hapless keeper Petr Cech 12 minutes later before Eto'o, with the Blaugrana charging forward, nodded in the winner ten minutes from time. 

Chelsea, like Barcelona, are well clear domestically and will be desperate for more success in Europe's top competition. Mourinho's Porto won the UEFA Champions League in 2004, but no London club has ever brought home the continental crown. Last season they were knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual winners Liverpool and despite his threat, the Blues boss will want to reward the massive financial investment placed in the club by securing the elusive treasure. 

Just not cricket
If he was troubled by the googlies last season, Barcelona's Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard is playing the verbal deliveries this time round with a perfectly straight bat. A championship under his belt, a greater command of Spanish and the knowledge that his forward line includes two of the three best players in the world as well as 18-year-old Lionel Messi, the former AC Milan star cuts an even cooler figure these days.

"I don't think we put in our best performance but we dealt with the great danger of Chelsea," he said. "It's an important result for us and it was a special game because it was very tense but the important thing is that we were focused as a team and concentrated against a strong opponent."

Rijkaard has won almost all there is to win in the game as a player while Mourinho came to the fore as the voice of Bobby Robson a decade ago during the latter's one-year spell at the Nou Camp. Yet as coach the Dutchman is still a novice when it comes to cup victories while the Portuguese is gunning for his third major European triumph in four seasons.

"We have something to show people," added Rijkaard simply, "that Barcelona are a good team and can eliminate Chelsea."

Like most second leg knockout matches, it looks set to be a cracker. Needing at least two goals, the English side will be forced to attack and Rijkaard may well have most trouble holding his own players back.

Individual matches, while thrilling, are often quickly forgotten, but a series of games between the same two teams can live long in the memory. Whatever happens on Tuesday, let's hope Barcelona and Chelsea get it together next season and beyond.