The stats don't make comfortable reading for Juventus fans. Bayern have won their last nine European home games by an aggregate score of 36-4 - and Opta's latest tweet won't fill them with much hope, either. 

Bayern have scored something of an own goal already today with the club apologising for publishing a graphic on social media which some interpreted as being a reference to Auschwitz concentration camp.

The tweeted photo had a train track with "here is the end" written on it. 

The club issued a statement soon afterwards saying: "Our only intention with the graphic was to play on the sporting aspect of this evening’s Champions League last-16 tie, whereby one of the two teams has to exit the competition.”

Image source, Getty Images

What do you make of the Arsenal team selection?

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Looking for motivational ideas Arsene? Check this out.

School children gatecrashed Barca's training session on Monday and were rewarded with selfies and training gear. Have you ever done anything cheeky or crafty to meet your sporting heroes?

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Stephen Hall: Walked into Saints training ground with a Manchester United shirt on, to collect some autographs from Mark Hughes, then of Saints, he had a joke with me and signed books and posters, Hughsie legend!

Nobody accuse Lionel Messi of being a softie. Most defenders on the planet have tried - unsuccessfully - kicking lumps out of him. Then he gets up and runs rings round them.

But the Barcelona talisman jokingly (I think) cowers inside the Nou Camp tunnel as he nervously looks out at the wet and wild weather.

Arsenal can only dream of him crying off...

Image source, Getty Images

Did anyone who studied A Level mathematics enjoy permutations? Nah, didn't think so. And I'd imagine football players and managers hate them even more. 

Luckily (possibly their only slice of good news) Arsenal don't have to worry about number-crunching tonight.

It's simple. They must score at least twice and win by a two-goal margin.

"We don't have to calculate too much, we know we have to attack and score," said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. "The players are united to give a strong performance."

Image source, PA

Struggling to remember last week, never mind a whole 22 days ago? Let us remind you.

Arsenal battled gallantly against the mighty Barcelona for over 70 minutes. But then they crumbled quicker than an overcooked apple pie - and Lionel Messi was the person sticking the fork in.

The Ballon d'Or winner swept home the first following a blistering counter-attack involving Luis Suarez and Neymar, then picked himself up from a flooring from Gunners substitute Mathieu Flamini to convert from the penalty spot.

And the 2-0 defeat leaves Arsenal faces an uphill, no...mountainous, task tonight...

Image source, Rex Features

Arsene Wenger's team selection has certainly generated plenty of debate - with some people obviously feeling that he has given up on Europe for another season.

Ed K Junior: Looking at the Arsenal starting line up and I'm convinced Wenger is not even trying anymore.

Mike Simpson: This team selection is strongly suggestive of where Wenger’s priorities lie

Belete Eshetea: Iwobi starts? I guess Arsene gave up on Arsenal senior players.

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Following in the Arsenal squad into the Nou Camp are the Barcelona boys who, understandably, have a spring in their step. No matchday suits for this scruffy lot. Oh well, who needs sartorial style when you're the best football team on the planet.

Lionel Messi looks snug under a big puffa jacket, Luis Suarez is wearing a scruffy pair of ripped jeans. At least the bowler hat-wearing Neymar is providing some glamour. He looks he's auditioning to join One Direction. 

Arsene Wenger has a sullen expression as he strolls through the Nou Camp corridors towards the away dressing room. He's probably asking himself why he didn't bring his brolly. Lashing it down in Barcelona.

Image source, Reuters

BBC Radio 5 Live

...but don't cop out reading our words of, erm, wisdom. That's the beauty of modern technology you see - you can listen to BBC Radio 5 live's coverage on this very page while still reading along.

Our men in the Nou Camp are commentator John Murray and summariser Danny Mills. Burnley midfielder Joey Barton is back in the studio assisting Mark Chapman.

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben has failed to recover from the cold which forced him to skip training on Tuesday and doesn't make the squad. 

Juventus' former Bayern striker Mario Mandzukic was a doubt for this match, but the Croatian is named on the substitutes' bench. 

Bayern XI: Neuer, Benatia, Ribery, Lewandowski, Costa, Alonso, Lahm, Vidal, Muller, Alaba, Kimmich.

Juventus XI: Buffon, Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Evra, Cuadrado, Khedira, Hernanes, Pogba, Alex Sandro, Morata.

To paraphrase an underrated S Club 7 song, reach for the stars and your dreams will soon come true. And that appears to be the philosophy of Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri, who is seeking perfection tonight.  

The Italians will be without Paulo Dybala, Giorgio Chiellini and Claudio Marchisio which makes the task ahead tougher. 

But Allegri said: "We have to play a perfect game. If we are not able to do so, it will be very difficult. We know Bayern are a team that normally take control of the game, 60 to 70% of the time.

"Of course it is a pity that we have some injury problems. But we cannot risk anything with those lads, there are many other, very important, games for us in Serie A and the Coppa Italia."

Image source, Getty Images

"I would have preferred 5-0 but now we have to deal with it," said Bayern boss Pep Guardiola of the first leg against Juventus. 

Bayern seemed to be cruising until Juve battled back from 2-0 down at the Juventus Stadium to secure a 2-2 draw. 

"Juventus are Juventus, with their own special spirit," added the Catalan.

"The situation is the same as ever: Juve will be very strong opponents. After the first game, my appreciation and respect for Juve is even greater."

Image source, Getty Images

Tonight we're aiming to make sure that you feel so close to the action inside the Nou Camp that you can almost smell the half-time Butifarra sausages. They do a roaring trade in the bowels of the famous footballing cathedral you know.

That, of course, will be the focus of our attention tonight. But that's not to say we will be neglecting tonight's other big Champions League tie...

Seeing those bold Barca-supporting youngsters having a kickabout with their heroes had us thinking in the BBC Sport office.

Plenty of you, our wonderful readers, must have stories about the time you came up with a brassy plan to meet your hero. Yes? Excellent.

Keep us entertained over the next hour by telling us cheekiest thing you've ever done to meet a sports star? And if you have photographic evidence of your meeting then even better.

You know the drill - tweet #bbcfootball or text 81111.

If a few kids were twagging school in, say, Bournemouth and scaled the fence of their local top-flight football club's training ground then the chances are they would be marched off the premises by some burly security staff and hauled before the courts for trespassing. 

Not in Barcelona, however. These three lads were welcomed with open arms by the Barca superstars, treated to a kickabout with Lionel Messi and given loads of signed memorabilia.

Much better than a day at school...

Watch the video here.