Seven years ago, Juan Mata was part of the Chelsea team that knocked Pep Guardiola's Barcelona out as the Blues' went on to win their first Champions League title.
On Wednesday, he will return to face the Catalan giants with Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the same competition and there are plenty of similarities between now and then.
"There are certain similarities," Mata said. "That year [with Chelsea] we had to change coach, like this year, and Barcelona were favourites that season, like they are now.
"We also played at home first and then at the Camp Nou, but each knockout game is different, despite the similarities in circumstances.
"Eliminating Barcelona was so unexpected, we were confident that we could go through, but I remember that the other semi-final was Bayern against Real Madrid and people were waiting for a Madrid/Barcelona final and the final was Chelsea against Bayern.
"You never know what can happen in football. If the result is the same this time, I couldn't be happier."
Like Chelsea experienced in 2012, Mata's Red Devils are prepared to have less possession than their opponents.
"We're going to try and express ourselves when we have the ball and attempt to play when we can," Mata said. "We know that [Barcelona's] style of play is based on having the ball, but we're going to try and get it off them so that they don't feel comfortable.
"There'll certainly be moments during the tie when we suffer because Barcelona will put the pressure on. You also have to suffer in order to win. Good teams suffer, adapt to this and end up getting through it."
"There's no reason to be negative for us, having this feeling that there's more to gain than there is to lose can be positive and we're convinced that, if we do things well, we've got a chance of progressing."
Manchester United's form has taken a dramatic upturn since the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Jose Mourinho's successor.
"It's true that results have been very good with the new boss, apart from the last few weeks," he said. "We can't forget that he's a legend at this club for goals like the one he scored at the Camp Nou [in the 1999 Champions League final].
"From that point on, he's been in the DNA of Manchester United. What's really stood out is that, in the little time I've been working with him, he seems a good person and this is very important as the leader of a group."
Solskjaer masterminded United's comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the last round as Marcus Rashford's penalty sealed an aggregate win on away goals.
"Unfortunately, I wasn't in Paris that night," Mata said. "Nor were 10 of my teammates. Maybe this makes it a bit more mythical and historical.
"Being behind like we were after the first leg, it seemed impossible and in the end a bit mythical that our club ended up winning. It was a night that we'll never forget."
Despite the huge task at hand in this quarter-final, Mata is confident that team spirit and the support of the fans can get United over the line.
"What I would say is that we want this so bad," he said. "There's a mix of experience and youth and we're going to face it with all our might and with the pride of wearing the shirt of Manchester United, a team that never gives up."