When Deportivo La Coruña visit Old Trafford tonight, they will not only have to score twice and prevent Manchester United adding to their lead, they will have stop the man that ripped through their defence at a sodden Riazor a week ago - Ryan Giggs.
Playing in a more central position than Depor manager Javi Irureta had anticipated, the Welshman escaped Depor's back line almost at will, while only timely interventions from keeper José Molina and centre-back César Martín prevented Giggs from capping a superb performance with a much-deserved goal that would have put the tie out of sight.
"Beckham's got a great touch, of course", says Depor's veteran captain Fran when I meet him at the club's hail-swept Acea De Ama training ground, "and Manchester United are superb collectively - one of the best sides in the world - but the player that most impresses me is, without doubt, Ryan Giggs".
"Giggs is a player I love, he's got everything."
Part of the reason Giggs so impresses the Spanish is his directness, his willingness to run straight at defences - something which so endeared Steve McManaman to the Spanish during Euro96. If English defenders, as Alan Hansen endlessly states, hate pace, the Spanish variety, used to a slower, more patient brand of football, are even more afraid of the game's speed merchants.
That's particularly true if they have pace and control. "Having seen him up close Giggs is just so quick", says Fran, a man who knows a thing or two about wingers, having spent 14 seasons patrolling Deportivo La Coruña's left flank. "Sometimes players with that kind of pace struggle to control the ball, or they're clumsy, but with Giggs it's quite the reverse - he never loses the ball, he's got so much skill, so much ability".
"It's such a shame that a player of his class won't be going to the World Cup".
Fran's not alone in his appreciation for the Welshman. After the first leg, the Spanish press singled out Giggs for special praise, while Depor coach Javier Irureta's analysis also coincides with that of his captain.
"For me, Giggs was their best player", he says. "He got away from us time and again. He got past César a couple of times but luckily Molina made some important stops. And then César had to clear one off the line, as well".
Giggs is not the only one to have left an impression on Depor's affable manager, however: Irureta will be desperately hoping Nicky Butt - yes, Nicky Butt - isn't fit for tonight's clash.
"Maybe Butt doesn't shine quite like Beckham or Keane", Irureta says, "but he does such a vital job. He works so hard and everything he does, he does right. He's extremely effective. Butt impressed me a lot".
The Spanish press hailed Depor's 5-0 victory over Mallorca at the weekend as proof that they could win at Old Trafford thus offering an "up yours" to the British press for its hysterical reaction to Diego Tristán's tackle on David Beckham - the kind of a tackle which most Spaniards believe is commonplace in the "primitive" English game.
Like the press, Depor's players are insisting, openly at least, that they haven't given up - "if we didn't think we could win, we'd be better off staying at home", says Fran - but they're under no illusions as to the enormity of the task that faces them.
"We're disappointed about the first leg because we had high hopes for the European Cup", says Fran, "and we know it's really difficult for us now, but we'll do our very best".
Irureta concurs: "It's going to be very difficult", he says, almost wincing as the cliché slips from his lips, "but you never know in football, 90 minutes is a long time".
"We won't throw caution to the wind", he says, laughing off my suggestion that maybe now's the time to play two centre forwards. "No, no, we'll play like we always do, with one up front and one behind. We need to be patient and play our normal game. We know it's going to be tough".
All the more so if Giggs is on form, something which is confirmed by Fran's parting shot. Driving away from training, as he passes me he stops and winds down the window. "How old is Giggs?" he asks, "30-odd?".
"27, 28" I reply. Fran rolls his eyes as if to say bloody hell, but can only muster an "oh".
Perhaps he thought he'd seen the back of him.
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