Barça's men ready for Liverpool as club dream of Champions League final double

The hallmark of a well-run modern club. As Lionel Messi and his team-mates prepare for their Champions League semi-final encounter with Liverpool, starting with the first leg at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night, the other senior Barça side is already through to a European final.

Though the former is certain to receive more headline coverage than when Barça Women beat Bayern at the climax of their last-four tie at the weekend – safe to say it will stretch far beyond Catalonia – Sunday's success will have sharpened minds and expectations across the camp.

Female Barça team has already made history

Barça Femení have already made their share of history. Decided by a first-half penalty from Mallorcan forward Mariona, doubling their advantage after the opening leg in Germany, the Blaugranes are through to their first Women's Champions League final, where they will most likely have the euphoria of a record 12,700 crowd at the Miniestadi still ringing in their ears.

Now surely the men won't want to be outdone. Of course, their 26th La Liga trophy is already won – a remarkable feat even for the high standards here – but Barça next have the chance to be the first club ever whose men and woman have reached a European final in the same year.

Arsenal, another name renowned for their holistic view of football, are the only ones to have come close, with their ladies' side lifting the trophy in 2007, the season after Arsène Wenger's men were memorably denied the same feat by Barça and their super sub Henrik Larsson.

Naturally, the ultimate goal is for both Blaugrana sides to go out and win the cup – and whisper it quietly, that would bring them to the verge of a combined quadruple,  in what would be a truly exceptional testament to the club's playing style, backroom approach and organization.