Good evening and welcome to live coverage of Barcelona versus Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League in the Estadio de Luz, Lisbon. Teams to follow shortly.

That said, the boy can play and then some. He has been a crucial influence in three Champions League victories for Barcelona so far in his career; if he can guide them past Bayern tonight and to another, it will be a major factor in defining his legacy when he does eventually retire. If any club are aware of Messi's ability to sort a game by himself, then it is Bayern. Back in 2015, one of his most seminal performances reduced Bayern to rubble in the Camp Nou in the semi-finals.

So, shall we have a chat about Lionel? The current Balon d'Or holder turned 33 in June, and bounced off the floor to score a wonderful goal against Napoli last weekend. Yet for all of his enormous talent, he doesn't quite have the haul of major trophies to match the rather bold assertion by some that he is the greatest player ever to play this beautiful game. As things stand he's contested less Champions League finals during his career than Liverpool over the same period, despite the enormous advantages of playing in front of one of the greatest midfields in history and Barcelona's super club status in Spain and Europe.

Barcelona and Bayern Munich are the only two teams left in the competition to have actually won it. They each have a nap hand of triumphs, though neither club has returned to the final since their last victory. For Barcelona that was a 3-1 victory over Juventus in Berlin in 2015, while Bayern won the first – and so far, only – all-German Big Cup final 2-1 against Bayern at Wembley in 2013. In each instance, one beat the other at the semi-final stage.

The bad news for Barcelona tonight is Bayern’s merciless run of form. In all competitions – Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and the Champions League – they’ve won 25 of their last 26 matches. Only RB Leipzig, who qualified for the semi-finals last night, managed to hold them to a draw back in February. Bayern have also won all eight of their Champions League games this season, scoring a phenomenal 31 goals in the process. Most recently, as mentioned earlier, they eviscerated Chelsea in Munich six days ago.

The Champions League represents Barcelona's last chance of winning a trophy in the prolonged 2019-20 season. Relative to their largesse, it's been a taxing season for the club. They ceded the league title to Real Madrid a few weeks ago, after sacking manager Ernesto Valverde in January when they were in first place. Now, after sorting out a tricky second leg to Napoli in the last 16 on Saturday his replacement Quique Setien, who looks certain to be replaced shortly, is three games away from securing the sixth European Cup/Champions League title in the history of the club.

No changes for Bayern tonight; they retain the same XI that walloped Chelsea last Saturday.

There are two changes for Barcelona tonight. Ivan Rakitic and Antoine Griezmann drop to the bench, replaced by Arturo Vidal and Sergio Busquets.

And your Bayern Munich:

Here's your boys from Barcelona for tonight: