This is by far the biggest clash of all fixtures in the Champions League first knockout stage, and one of the biggest ones in recent times. Europe's most crowned club, Real Madrid, will take on Britain's most successful ever domestic and European football club, Liverpool, in a titanic clash which will determine which one will proceed to the later stages of the Champions League.

Despite Real's and Liverpool's illustrious European heritages, the two clubs have clashed just once in their rich history, but what a match that was. The only time Real faced off against Liverpool was on May 27 1981, in the Champions Cup final at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. Back then, Alan Kennedy secured the win for the Anfield side with his 82nd minute strike and Liverpool lifted the European Champions Cup for the third time. 

The two teams share 14 Champions Cup/Champions League trophies between them, with Real Madrid bagging nine and Liverpool five, which ranks them as the first and third most successful clubs in Europe's most prestigious club tournament ever. Only AC Milan's seven trophies separates the two clubs.

This is the clash between the undisputed Queen of Europe and the Kings of England.

Steven Gerrard has been ruled fit for action in Spain, which is a major boost for the Reds, who have stumbled in his absence in February. The inspirational skipper trained on Tuesday having missed three weeks of action due to hamstring injury, and his return is welcome given that the influential Xabi Alonso is suspended for the match. Defender Daniel Agger is still nursing a back injury and will miss the tie.

Meanwhile, for Real Madrid Rafael van der Vaart has been recalled back to the squad whereas Klaas Jan Huntelaar is ineligible to play. Real manager Juande Ramos might bank on Dutch pair Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder in the starting line-up against Liverpool, for which the English side has to be on the look out.

Moreover, Madrid have been in superb form in their domestic league since former Tottenham manager Ramos took over, which cannot be said for their Anfield opponents.

Real have won nine league matches in a row and thrashed Real Betis 6-1 at the weekend, whereas Liverpool were held to a 1-1 home draw by Manchester City and are trailing seven points behind Manchester United in the league.

Jamie Carragher has spoken for Liverpool's official website ahead of the match: "We still have to believe we can win both competitions, but for now our focus is totally on the Real Madrid game."
 
"Forget about our league form because when you play a Champions League match the mentality and intensity makes it different.
 
"We realise it is going to be a really difficult tie because Madrid are a great side. People said when the draw was made that it was a good draw for us because they were on a bad run, but people forget they have won the league over the last two years against a fantastic Barcelona side."