When they clash in Munich on Tuesday in the first leg of the first knockout stage it will be their ninth meeting in the Champions League -- one more than the record of eight they share with the ties between Manchester United and Juventus, Galatasaray and Barcelona and Real Madrid and Porto.

When they meet again in the second leg in two weeks' time at the Bernabeu for their 16th overall competitive European clash they will set a record all-time European head-to-head tally, one more than the series of games between Real and Inter Milan.

Their previous 14 matches have seen nine wins for Bayern, four for Real with one match drawn but the Spanish champions start as favourites to emerge on top from this knockout round.

Real, who play their 100th Champions League match on Tuesday, are near peak form after forging five points clear in the Primera Liga with a 4-2 win at Espanyol on Saturday.

Coach Carlos Queiroz has no serious injury concerns and should be able to field his first choice side against Bayern.

That will mean a return to the starting line-up for David Beckham, who was suspended for the Espanyol game, and Luis Figo, who came on as a second-half substitute and showed no ill effects from his slight thigh muscle injury.

However, Bayern have a doubt over playmaker Michael Ballack, whose bronchitis kept him out of Germany's 2-1 friendly win over Croatia last week. He has not been able to train properly since.

Bayern beat SV Hamburg 1-0 on Saturday to close the gap on leaders Werder Bremen but as well as missing Ballack they were without Germany keeper Oliver Kahn (back), who should return.

LOOKING BACK

European champions AC Milan will also be looking back at history as they aim to get past Sparta Prague, who have never scored a goal against them in four previous European meetings.

Sparta were busy in the transfer window but failed to make up ground on leaders Banik Ostrava on Saturday as their hopes of retaining the Czech title faded in a 0-0 draw with Pribram.

But they will need to be on top form against a Milan team buoyed by a sensational 3-2 comeback win over Inter on Saturday.

Milan are quoted by British bookmakers at 13-2 to retain the European Cup, Sparta at 150-1 to win it for the first time -- and the odds on a Sparta upset in this tie are almost as great.

The English trio of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea face contrasting away legs this week.

Arsenal, who are also chasing an FA Cup and League double, look too strong for a Celta Vigo side struggling in the Spanish league -- despite wins over Milan and Ajax Amsterdam in the group phase of this competition.

Celta are back in relegation trouble after losing 2-0 at home to Malaga on Saturday and returning to European competition could be a dangerous distraction for Radomir Antic's side.

Celta will likely be without Jesuli, who scored one of the goals in the 2-1 victory at AC Milan that clinched their place in the second phase. The influential midfielder suffered a thigh injury in Saturday's defeat and is doubtful.

STRONG ENOUGH

Former Gunner Silvinho, now with Celta, believes Arsenal are strong enough to end their run of six matches without a win in Spain since Arsene Wenger became manager in 1996.

"They're one of the top five teams in the world and we'll have to be at our absolute best to beat them," he said last week.

Leaders Arsenal, unbeaten in the Premier League, took a huge step nearer the title on Saturday when they won 2-1 at Chelsea while Manchester United drew 1-1 at home to Leeds United to slip seven points behind with 12 matches to play.

Arsenal's main injury doubt is skipper Patrick Vieira who injured a knee in the weekend win.

Chelsea's expensively-assembled team now have only one trophy to play for after defeat in the FA Cup to Arsenal last week and being effectively knocked out of the title race.

They could still harbour Champions League ambitions in two weeks' time after opponents Stuttgart warmed up for Wednesday's first leg by losing 1-0 to lowly Kaiserslautern on Saturday.

Manchester United, who, like Real, will play their 100th Champions League match, travel to Portuguese champions-elect Porto with defender Mikael Silvestre doubtful and Rio Ferdinand suspended.

Porto striker Derlei is injured but tall Lithuanian striker Edgaras Jankauskas could cause a jittery United defence some problems at set pieces.

Despite falling behind in the title race, United have a better European pedigree than Arsenal and are still rated as one of the favourites to lift the European Cup in three months time.