If it was based on historic reputations, the safe money would appear to be on an in-from Real Madrid to make the Champions League final as they look for a fabled tenth European crown.
But Borussia Dortmund stand in their way and irked the Spanish giants sufficiently in the group stages to make Wednesday's first leg at the Westfalenstadion an intriguing match-up.
The Germans came out on top against Real Madrid in the group stages by beating them 2 - 1 at home and getting a 2 - 2 draw at the Bernabeu - a game they could have won had it not been for a late goal from Mesut Ozil.
Jose Mourinho has already started the mind games by claiming that his opposite number Jurgen Klopp has been "talking too much" about Real Madrid in the run up to Wednesday's game.
But the Real boss could spend some time trying to devise a strategy to overcome a dangerous Dortmund side.
Mourinho has one problem though as Dortmund play a similar style of football. His team are set up as a counter-attacking unit that is devastating on the break with the pace of Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria feeding off Xabi Alonso and Mesut Ozil to lay waste to teams that venture forward too willingly.
But Dortmund are primarily a counter-attacking force with a technical edge, breaking forward quickly with Mario Gotze and Marco Reus linking up with the prolific Robert Lewandowski.
Both teams play a 4-2-3-1 formation, although Dortmund are much more compact, leaving less space between defensive and attacking midfield than Madrid who leave Ronaldo to rove in the opposite half.
As you can see below, both teams had more joy down their right flanks during the 2 - 2 draw:
However in Real Madrid's case it was because they had right back Alvaro Arbeloa operating on the left.
He is suspended for Wednesday's game but Real still have a crisis in both full back positions with Michael Essien, Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao all doubtful after picking up knocks against Real Betis on Saturday evening.
It is a weakness Kuba Blaszczykowski and Reus are sure to exploit with their pace and trickery.
Unlike Barcelona in recent Clasicos, Dortmund will not be tactically naive. They will press as a team, allowing Real to have the ball, although their may be a risk if they over-commit in the opposition half and leave space for Ronaldo and Di Maria to run into.
Letting Real have the ball will be crucial as Dortmund's impressive results against Madrid came with an average possession rate of 41 per cent.
Consequently, Real may have had more dangerous attacks over the two legs, but Dortmund achieved parity in the amount of "good chances" created, particularly in the 2 - 1 win.
Dortmund will have to ride their luck at home on Wednesday but at leas they have a template to follow.
