The reunion everybody wants to see

Chelsea-Barca is a modern rivalry, only 12 years old, but it has seen more fireworks in recent seasons than a New Year’s Eve in Sydney, more drama than a run on Broadway and more disciplinary hearings than Joey Barton could even dream of; and as things stand a re-run could definitely be on the cards.

Barca are level at 0-0 against AC Milan, the team who knocked out Arsenal, as they prepare for their second-leg quarter-final match at the Camp Nou tomorrow; while Chelsea take a 1-0 lead against Benfica to Stamford Bridge where, of course, they produced such a stunning and powerful comeback against Napoli in the last round.

Harry Redknapp’s entire season as Tottenham manager will be shaped by whether his team can beat Chelsea in an FA Cup semi-final in two weeks’ time and stay ahead of their London rivals in the top four of the Premier League; but such is the power of the Champions League that even he will be cheering Roberto Di Matteo’s side against Benfica on Wednesday in the hope of setting up a tie that an entire continent wants to see.

“I think they’ll win this one and I was equally confident they would go through against Napoli,” said Redknapp. “That was my banker of the year. I watched the first game and I just thought [Benfica] were poor at the back. They had three great forwards, top class, but at the back they were awful. I fancy them to beat Benfica. It’s tough to come to Stamford Bridge on a European night.

“To be honest, I want them to go through, because I want to watch the game against Barca. It’d be one of them weeks where you’re rubbing your hands together and can’t wait for it. What a tie that would be.”

If even the manager of their closest derby rivals is backing Chelsea, then what hope for Benfica as they arrive in London looking to achieve the impossible. There have been plenty of fairytale-spoilers in football history but the Portuguese team, who knocked out Manchester United, looked short on quality in the first leg and short on pace in key areas too as they succumbed to Salomon Kalou’s goal.

Milan could be a more interesting prospect in the Camp Nou. They have already drawn 1-1 there in the group stages, a result that would be enough to send the Italians into the last four if they are able to repeat it; but somehow you get a feeling Chelsea and Barca are destined to meet and nothing is likely to get in the way.

For the fairytale to have its perfect ending, however, Barca would need to beat Roberto Di Matteo’s men at the next stage to set up a potential final against Real Madrid — a tie that would surely be regarded as potentially the most high-profile and hyped European Cup final of all time. It’s a match that would have everything; Guardiola against Mourinho, Messi against Ronaldo, second against first in La Liga, giant against giant.

“Of course it would be amazing,” admitted Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas recently. “But the main thing is to win the trophy whoever we play. Nobody has ever won it two years in a row and we want to be the first. But all the teams have a chance and you cannot underestimate people like Bayern Munich and Chelsea.”

Fabregas is right because Bayern — with Arjen Robben hitting top form — are growing into this year’s competition and are strong favourites to make the semi-finals after winning 2-0 away in Marseille; and with an extra incentive of the final being staged at their home stadium they are impossible to ignore.

Real, too, have one foot in the last four after winning 3-0 away at Apoel in Cyprus. But for now the focus is on Chelsea and Barca; the public demands it.