Tuesday's game does not carry the same importance, but the appointment with the trophy holders (sans Lionel Messi) still affords a huge opportunity for the ambitious Schmidt to prove to his critics, and to his players, that they can hold their own against one of the best teams in Europe.
St Mirren are the trophy holders after they beat Hearts 3-2 in last season's final.
The South African claimed the surrendering of possession was one of two key areas in which his team will need to improve if they are to recover from the 10-point deficit against the trophy holders.
Van Gaal would love to cap his first year off with a top four finish and a trophy, the FA Cup the only prospect of silverware, and victory against the trophies holders could not only boast their chances of ending the campaign at Wembley in the final, but also push on for Champions League football.
Having topped the group stage of the competition, Ireland need only a draw in Dubai to clinch the trophy, with holders Afghanistan requiring a victory to hold on to the title.
It is certainly no lower on the agenda at Barcelona and Real Madrid, at Manchester United, Bayern Munich,Milan and, naturally, at the club where it is now on show – in the trophy room of the holders Inter.
Manchester City won their first major trophy as they beat holders Arsenal 1-0 to lift the Continental Cup.
Two down with two to play, Australia cannot do better than draw the series so England, as current holder, retains the trophy.
The Carphone Warehouse boss also carries the colours of Team Origin, Sir Keith Mills' challenge for the America's Cup, which will be racing from Tuesday against the holder of a trophy that began its journey in 1851.
The main threat to Ramírez for the boxer of the tournament award was the holder of the trophy, the world lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, who won gold at featherweight in Beijing.
Bill Jordan was being saluted because he is a recently retired top field representative of the National Rifle Association, A Marine veteran, a veteran of 30 years' service with the U.S. Border Patrol in Texas, a holder of the trophy for Outstanding American Handgunner, a developer of Smith & Wesson's Model 19 Combat Magnum revolver...author of the book on handgun shooting "No Second Place Winner".
