Tuesday's Champions League tie between Real Madrid and Arsenal is a tale of two underachievers, based on both sides' current predicaments.
These two giants have never clashed in Europe so there is no 'history' between them. However, there is plenty at stake, with both teams looking at the Champions League as their only realistic chance of salvaging anything from respective campaigns that have spiralled into mediocrity.
The added significance for Arsenal will be that, if they are knocked out of this tournament - in addition to exits from both domestic competitions and a constant view of Chelsea's rear-end in the Premiership - what effect will this have on Thierry Henry.
The Frenchman, who has yet to put his name to a lucrative contract that the Highbury hierarchy have thrashed out, is desperate to add to his medal collection and, more specifically, desperate to taste success in the Champions League. Thus far, Arsenal, who have not won this tournament in the club's history, have not looked likely to help him satisfy this hunger.
To be fair to Real, they have started to pick themselves up following a tardy start to the season. The 6-1 defeat at the hands of Real Zaragoza in the Copa de Rey was distressing, but they have retaliated with three decisive victories.
Madrid made a bold bid to overturn that five-goal deficit in the second leg at the Bernabeu, but a 4-0 win left them a goal short of what was required to eliminate Zaragoza.
To my mind, the most likely outcome of this match is a draw, and the 5/2 offered by Paddy Power about this in the match result market makes plenty of appeal.
The fact is, these two sides have been blighted by poor defending this season. Both teams are capable of punishing opponents with telling attacks, something which both managers will be keen to counter.
As such, I reckon that this fixture will either develop into a game of cat and mouse, or a veritable flurry of goalmouth activity. For entertainment purposes, one hopes it will be the latter scenario. But, bearing in mind what is on the line here, one thinks it will be the former, which makes a stalemate more likely.
Betfred Bonus Offers
