Leo Messi rediscovers the lost charm of the Clasico, Carlo Ancelotti returns to the Parco dei Principi after the two-year period that ended with success in Ligue1.
And then there is the Mbappè intrigue, destined to pass on a free transfer in Madrid at the end of June.
There is this and much more in the Psg-Real super-challenge that opens the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 after the winter break.
The duel is the most striking, but not the only one that captures the attention of fans: if Man City and Bayern appear favorites against Sporting and Salinburgh, on Wednesday at San Siro there is another great classic, Inter-Liverpool.
On Thursday in the Europa League play-offs there is an unmissable Barcelona-Naples.
Lazio face a tough nut to crack like Porto, unbeaten in their tournament while Atalanta '
There always seems to be some obstacle to translating Al Khelaifi's millionaire investments into European success.
The Champions League, lost in the final two years ago with Bayern, remains a chimera.
Messi has also joined the jewelry collection, but controversies and misunderstandings are always around the corner, so much so that on Friday the public went on strike against the 'team of mercenaries'.
To inflame tomorrow's challenge is also the position of Mbappè, paid a golden weight by the Parisians, but who does not want to renew the expiring contract to marry in Madrid.
PSG arrives smoothly at the appointment: in Ligue1 he has +16 over Marseille, Pochettino is spoiled for choice in an organic enriched also with Hakimi, Wijnaldum, with Donnarumma who plays little in alternation with Keylor Navas,
and the glorious ex Sergio Ramos, almost always injured.
But so far Messi has worked intermittently even in a trio of aces with Mbappè and Neymar.
Now there is the exam with Real that Ancelotti with talent and flexibility has brought back to the top.
In Liga there is only the resistance of Sevilla (at -4), but it is the Champions that counts most of all.
To counter the Parisians the defense strengthened by Alaba, the usual steel midfield Modric-Casemiro-Kroos, in attack the stainless veteran Benzema will be helped by the expert Asensio and the talented Vinicius.
Dzeko has an account to settle with his old friend Salah, the elimination in the 2018 Champions semifinal with Roma.
Inzaghi's Inter, a candidate for the bis championship, receives Klopp's Liverpool who have lost the wake of Man City but have the usual fierce line-up, with Diogo Jota in great shape.
The Nerazzurri will miss Barella.
Bayern, despite the usual brace from Lewandowski, lost badly in the Bundesliga with the modest Bochum, but in the Champions League it will be another story, even if the Germans know well that they will have to be wary of Salzburg, the real surprise of the season having eliminated Sevilla.
There should be even less doubts in the other eighth: Guardiola's Man City is the team in the best form in Europe and therefore the favorite, ready to cancel the disappointment of the May defeat in the final against Chelsea.
The Citizens play at Sporting Lisbon, fresh from the draw at Porto.
In the Europa League the highlight Barcelona-Naples is between two teams returning from a draw, but that of the Blaugrana, caught in the recovery in the derby with Espanyol, revealed the defects that seemed to be overcome by the work of Xavi and by the powerful insertions of the market.
It will be a qualification in the balance, with two spectacular races.
Sarri's Lazio, which has already won this trophy, is also at risk against Sergio Conceicao's Porto who flies home: after 16 consecutive victories they kept the defending champions of Sporting in check and at the end there was a fight giant with four expelled, including the old warrior Pepe.
Atalanta's task is easier, having found themselves in the match against Juve, who face the Greeks of Olympiacos of El Arabi who dominate their championship and who will benefit from Manolas' return home.
