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RECORD CHASER Barcelona's Lamine Yamal could break the all-time teenage Champions League scoring record against Aston Villa.
Image: AFP
Europe’s premier club competition reaches the midway stage on Tuesday night, with Manchester United seeking respite from domestic troubles, Barcelona facing an English test, and Harry Kane chasing Champions League history in Madrid.
At Old Trafford, Manchester United host Roma having won all four previous meetings in Manchester.
Roma travel with wretched form on English soil, winless in their last 16 visits.
Despite United's patchy Premier League form, Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini warned against complacency.
"Obviously Manchester United are struggling somewhat in terms of results in the Premier League at the moment. We can't get distracted and too hung up on that situation because we know that United are a strong team. They make things very difficult for the opposition at Old Trafford, so we'll be playing as if we're against United at the top of their form."
United manager Michael Carrick, who scored twice in a 7-1 rout of Roma as a player in 2007, defended his squad's focus.
"Perception is a funny thing. The commitment of the players to the club, to me, to each other, I don't question that at all. We need to play better, we can make better decisions, but commitment is not a thing at all."
In Spain, Barcelona welcome Aston Villa with 19-year-old Lamine Yamal one goal away from claiming the all-time teenage scoring record in the competition outright, currently sharing the mark of 13 with Kylian Mbappé.
Villa travel knowing Barcelona have gone 15 home matches without defeat against English sides, while the visitors have won just once in eight trips to Spain.
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At the Metropolitano, Atlético Madrid put their 16-match unbeaten home run against German opposition on the line against Bayern Munich.
Their primary assignment is subduing Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane, who has scored in 10 consecutive Champions League games.
A goal tonight matches Cristiano Ronaldo’s tournament record of 11.
"The Ballon d'Or last week was one of the best feelings I've had in my life and my career," Kane said. "Team trophies are why we play football. To be able to lift the Champions League with Bayern would be an incredible feeling. I would choose the Champions League, but I have the opportunity to do both – let's see what happens."
Behind Kane, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will earn his 164th tournament cap, surpassing Thomas Müller as Germany's all-time appearance leader.
Finally, Villarreal host Paris Saint-Germain at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
PSG arrive unbeaten in their last 13 Champions League matches, with midfielder Vitinha scoring in back-to-back European appearances, while the Spanish hosts have won three of their last four home games against French opposition.
Tuesday's other fixtures:
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Sporting CP
Galatasaray vs Stuttgart
Feyenoord vs Inter
Bodø/Glimt vs Lille
LASK vs Slovan Bratislava