The balls with the special stars on are coming out at Manchester City and Liverpool's training grounds on Tuesday morning. Footballs are inanimate objects, are they? Not these. They feel alive and stir emotion.
The sight of the stars means one thing — a huge week awaits. It is the Champions League, the pinnacle. They make you giddy. Everything about these occasions do.
City will be wandering across Sporting Lisbon's Estadio Jose Alvalade pitch later on Tuesday and Liverpool the San Siro on Wednesday ahead of Inter Milan.
50 UP FOR EGYPTIAN KING SALAH
Mo Salah will play his 50th Champions League match since signing for Liverpool.