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Without a doubt, the tastiest tie of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals is the meeting between AC Milan and reigning champions Barcelona.

The two clubs are very familiar with one another, so there isn’t the element of surprise and uncertainty as there often is in Europe. Milan and Barca were grouped together in Group H, and both of their group stage encounters were thrillers. In their match at the Camp Nou in September, Milan sandwiched very early and very late goals around a Barcelona double in a 2-2 draw, with Thiago Silva‘s 92nd-minute header giving the visitors a stunning point. Barcelona took full spoils when they met at the San Siro in late November, twice surrendering leads but pulling out a 3-2 win via Xavi’s 63rd-minute strike.

The two clubs are also very familiar with European success, as AC Milan have claimed seven European titles in their history and Barcelona four times, with three of those titles coming in the last six seasons. Also, Barcelona are bidding to be the first side to repeat as European champions since Milan accomplished the feat in 1989 and 1990.

The two sides finished top of Group H, with Barca being rewarded for their group win by getting a fairly easy round of 16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen. If there was anyone out there who Leverkusen could do the improbable, those thoughts were erased quickly and ruthlessly, as Barca won 3-1 in the first leg in Germany and romped 7-1 at home to book their place in the last eight.

For Milan, the job was much more difficult than it should have been. The Rossoneri were paired with Arsenal in the round of 16, and the outcome looked all but settled after they throttled the Gunners 4-0 at the San Siro. But Arsenal didn’t get the memo, running out to a 3-0 lead through 45 minutes at the Emirates. Ultimately, Milan would hold firm, keeping Arsenal from getting the all-important fourth goal and squeaking through to the quarters.

The odds don’t favor them, and so do a few notable numbers. Barcelona are 11-2 in European Cup/Champions League quarterfinals, and they’ve won each of their last five. However, Milan also have a pretty impressive record in quarterfinals in this competition, as they’re 11-3 in their history. Also, while it’s worth noting that Barcelona have won in their last two away matches against Milan, it’s equally worth noting that Milan have never lost the home leg of a European Cup/Champions League quarterfinal, with ten wins and four draws in 14 previous such matches.

Both sides come into tonight’s first-leg showdown at the San Siro in solid form. Milan, who are four points clear of Juventus at the top of the Serie A table, are 7-2-1 in their last 10 matches in all competitions. Barcelona are still playing catch-up in La Liga, as they’re six points behind archrivals Real Madrid, but they’re on fire at present, having won seven straight in La Liga and nine in a row in all competitions.

It goes without saying that Milan can’t have any horrific stretches against Barcelona if they expect to have a chance to win this tie, but looking at how well they performed in the first leg against Arsenal and how they performed in the two group matches, they’re certainly capable of going toe to toe with the best team in the business.

With the stars that both teams have and the solid form that they’re both in, we should be in for 180 minutes – if not more – of entertaining football. Storylines abound in this clash, as Milan have a quartet of former Barcelona players in their side, in Mark van Bommel, Maxi Lopez, Gianluca Zambrotta, and last but certainly not least, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who would love nothing more than to have a hand in sending his former crashing out.

Whether or not Zlatan steps up on the big stage is always a hot storyline, but if there’s a time for him to do it, it’s now, given the opponent and given the fact that he’s currently in blistering form. Ibra has scored seven goals in his last six matches, and with his next goal, will reach 30 goals in a season for the first time in his career. All eyes will be on Lionel Messi and what magic he has in store, but Ibra could steal the show, and much more importantly, secure a Milan win.

With the impressive records that the two sides have at this stage, something has to give one way or the other. Until someone actually takes them down, you can’t pick against mighty Barcelona, but Milan, when they’re at their best, have the quality to, at the very least, give them as tough a fight as anyone will.