Manchester United face the mammoth task of taking on reigning champions Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.
The two sides, champions in their domestic leagues last season, have experienced drastically contrasting fortunes this time around, with many tipping the German giants to be far too strong for their faltering opponents over two legs.
Bayern come into Tuesday's first leg at Old Trafford on the back of a 3-3 draw against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday, only the third time this season that Pep Guardiola's men have dropped points in the league.
Having already clinched the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win at Hertha Berlin last Tuesday, Guardiola rested several key players on Saturday as Bayern shift their focus to defending their continental crown.
A host of first-team regulars started on the bench, including the likes of Thomas Muller, Phillip Lahm and Arjen Robben, although Lahm was introduced after 25 minutes when Thiago Alcantara had to be withdrawn after suffering a knee ligament tear which will keep the Spaniard out for six to eight weeks.
On the other hand, United have followed romping to the Premier League title by 11 points last term with a season of struggle under new manager David Moyes as they enter a new era following Alex Ferguson's retirement.
Ferguson famously oversaw United's incredible comeback in the 1999 Champions League final, when stoppage-time strikes from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer broke Bayern hearts, and the competition has been a rare source of comfort for Moyes in an otherwise disappointing campaign.
Sitting 10 points adrift of the Premier League's top four with only six games remaining, United's best chance of securing a place at Europe's top table next season looks to be by winning the title, although they will start this tie as underdogs.
They produced a stirring comeback in the round of 16, losing 2-0 to Olympiacos in Greece before Robin van Persie's hat-trick turned the tie around at Old Trafford.
However, the Dutchman will miss out against Bayern due to a knee injury suffered in that win, with Moyes also facing a shortage at right back in Chris Smalling (hamstring), Rafael da Silva (knock) and Antonio Valencia's (knee) collective absence.
Both sides will be forced to manage without first-choice selections in the backline, with United's Patrice Evra and Bayern's Dante serving one-match suspensions.
Moyes' men have won all of their home games in this year's competition, but that record will be severely tested against a Munich side that has not lost away from home in the Champions League since October 2012.
Bayern overcame English opposition in the last round, beating Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate and also knocked United out on their way to the 2010 final at the same stage they meet this year.
Form guide: The Reds have produced a somewhat mixed run of results recently. Two disappointing 3-0 home defeats at the hands of Liverpool and Manchester City overshadowed a month which otherwise featured wins over West Brom, Olympiacos and West Ham before Saturday’s impressive 4-1 victory over Aston Villa. This inconsistency has to an extent typified the campaign but David Moyes will be hoping for a strong end to the season and what better way to continue that than to beat the reigning European champions. Bayern, meanwhile, are in the midst of another memorable campaign. After scooping the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, the Bavarian club tied up the Bundesliga with a 3-1 win over Hertha Berlin last week. Their 24th title was secured with seven games left, ensuring their focus is well and truly fixed on Europe.
Ins and outs: United's 18 outfield players on show at the Aon Training Complex on Monday morning included recent absentees Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Antonio Valencia. However, both Rafael and Tom Cleverley missed the open session, giving credence to concerns they could join Juan Mata (cup-tied), Patrice Evra (suspended) and Robin van Persie (injured) on the sidelines. Bayern's influential midfielder Thiago Alcantara picked up an injury in the 3-3 draw with Hoffenheim at the weekend but Pep Guardiola otherwise has a fully-fit squad to pick from.
Last XI: With one eye on Tuesday, Guardiola fielded a slightly weakened side against Hoffenheim with reserve goalkeeper Tom Starke starting behind a back four of Rafinha, Dante, van Buyten and Contento. The midfield had a more familiar look with Schweinsteiger and Thiago anchoring and Gömez, Shaqiri and Ribery providing the ammunition for lone forward Claudio Pizarro.
Betting: Official betting partners bwin have priced United to win the first leg at odds of 6.00 and Bayern at 1.45, while the draw is at a reasonable 4.60. In terms of winning on aggregate, you can back the Reds at 6.50 and Pep Guardiola’s side at 1.09.
Last meeting: Back in April 2010, Bayern wrecked United's hopes of reaching a third successive Champions League final by triumphing on away goals at Old Trafford. Darren Gibson and Nani (2) put the Reds 3-0 up at half-time, before goals from Ivica Olić and Arjen Robben proved decisive after the break.
The manager: Pep Guardiola is widely regarded as one of the finest managers in world football, having guided Barcelona to two Champions League titles and 11 other major trophies during his four-season reign at Camp Nou. The former Spain international left the Catalan club in 2012 and took a year out of football, before joining Bayern at the beginning of this season. He has since guided the club to the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup and the Bundesliga title.
Star man: Despite contributing heavily to Bayern’s five-trophy haul during 2013, Franck Ribery finished third in the running for FIFA’s Ballon d’Or award, an annual prize that is given to the world’s best player. Rather than accepting his ranking with grace, the French wing wizard was left baffled by Cristiano Ronaldo’s victory. “I won everything, with the team and individually. Ronaldo won nothing," the 30-year-old told Munich’s TZ newspaper in January. “I feel I had earned this award. It's all politics. The Golden Ball doesn’t interest me anymore.” World’s best or not, Ribery’s talent is unquestionable.
Whistle-blower: Carlos Velasco Carballo will take charge of his first United match since the 2-0 home win over Marseille in 2011. Carballo is also known to Bayern, having refereed their last two Champions League quarter-final away games.