From Romania to Greater Manchester - the games keep coming but the competitions change. Excluding the Charity/Community Shield this is the first season Chelsea have ever met the Mancunians in more than one cup competition and, since we knocked them out of the Capital One Cup, our first chance to end their hopes a second time.

For their part, the Red Devils would view dumping the victors in three of the last four FA Cup finals as a crucial step towards sealing another Double.

The Capital One Cup game, featuring two much-changed sides, ended 5-4 to the Blues, including three penalties, one an injury time equaliser converted by Eden Hazard. Man United had led three times but the Blues eased away in extra time.

In fact our last three meetings have produced 20 goals and both teams might play with freedom, mindful of the need to blow poor European results out of their systems. On the anniversary of Chelsea's founding in 1905 it would be nice to put one over the opposition. A crowd of 67,000 saw us draw 1-1 at the Bridge in our debut season. Chelsea Football Club was born 108 years ago on Sunday: 10 March 1905.

Chelsea have only beaten United twice in the FA Cup - once at the Bridge and once at Wembley

On recent evidence it is unlikely that after Sunday's match Sir Alex Ferguson's first thought might be to emulate his forebear Sir Matt Busby, who after a 0-2 FA Cup defeat in 1950 marched into the Chelsea dressing room with the words: 'All right boys, we go quietly. You were too good for us.'

Much attention has focused on the controversial dismissal of Nani in the Real defeat. Chelsea fans might be forgiven for comparing the situations when John Terry was sent off against Barcelona by the same referee, Cüneyt Çakir.

Rather than leading 1-0 at home, the Blues were trailing 0-2 at the time, and at Camp Nou - BBC 5 Live commentator Alan Green even announced: 'Standby for the floodgates to open.'

Chelsea clawed back to a magnificent, tie-winning 2-2 through brilliance, resilience, Brazilians and Torres, plus a little well-earned luck. The defending champions may need all that again on Sunday to progress to the semi-finals for the sixth time in eight seasons.

Nor should the Turkish referee's decision on Tuesday be the kind that excites talk of 'payback' against Chelsea. On balance the judgment of officials in Chelsea-United games in recent years has, if anything, weighed in United's favour.

For instance, three decisions by officials handed United a two-man advantage and a crucial 3-2 victory in the league this season. At 2-2 with the Blues ascendant, Branislav Ivanovic was adjudged to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity and was dismissed.

Fernando Torres joined him with a second yellow for 'simulation', despite there being contact from Jonny Evans' boot. And finally Javier Hernandez's winner was tapped in from a clear offside position.

Hopefully there will be no contentious calls this weekend - including any by upset Man United supporters to our overworked emergency services.

Elsewhere this weekend, Spurs travel to Anfield - a happy hunting ground for them over the last two seasons - with the opportunity to open up a five-point gap between third and fourth in the Premier League.

Fifth-placed Arsenal, who are also out of the FA Cup, were set to play Everton, a place below, but the Toffees instead face Wigan in another of the quarter-finals.

The draw for the FA Cup semi-finals is after our game on Sunday at approx 6.30pm and will be broadcast on ITV 1 and FATV.

- Most FA Cup wins

Man Utd 11, Arsenal 10, Tottenham 8, Aston Villa 7, Chelsea 7, Liverpool 7, Blackburn 6, Newcastle 6, Everton 5, Man City 5, The Wanderers 5, WBA 5, Bolton 4, Sheffield Utd 4, Wolves 4, Sheffield Wed 3, West Ham 3.

Manchester United are unbeaten in 20 domestic matches since losing to Norwich City in November last year.

This season FA Cup-holders Chelsea exceeded Blackburn Rovers record of 24 games unbeaten, set in 1884/86. Chelsea's sequence includes one penalty shootout defeat by Everton following a 1-1 draw.


- Match preview by chelseafc.com