As arrivals at airports go, it could hardly have been more different. The Chelsea squad arrived in Istanbul late on Monday evening to a warm and low-key reception.
Back in 1999 during the club's first Champions League campaign, for what was our only previous game in Turkey, the players were theatrically greeted by banners declaring 'Chelsea, welcome to the inferno' plus flares, rocks, coins, spit and chanting Galatasaray fans.
It was described at the time by grinning captain Dennis Wise as 'Fantastic' as he refused to be intimidated.
Eight-and-half years on and there was no need for any such bravado from John Terry and company as today's squad were applauded through the airport by a small gathering - a special hand reserved for former Fenerbahçe player Nicolas Anelka.
There were plenty of TV cameras pointed and even a few bouquets handed over - a smiling Avram Grant one of the recipients of flowers.
And then it was onto coaches and quietly away.
The team had flown into the Asian side of the city and although staying the European side of the Bosphorus, will be crossing back for the game and flight home.
The location of Fenerbahçe's Sükrü Saracoglu Stadium means on Wednesday night, Chelsea will be competing for the European Cup on a pitch in Asia.
As with the previous Champions League away match in Athens, the distance plus a two-hour time difference necessitates travelling two days prior to the game for a suitable schedule.
On Tuesday early evening, Chelsea will train on the turf that will hold the quarter-final first leg.
The Blues arrive to take on opposition whose confidence will not have been harmed by events at the weekend. Fenerbahçe beat local rivals Besiktas 2-1 for a two-point lead over Galatasaray at the top of their domestic league.
They too have a Brazilian named Alex - this one a midfielder - and it was he who did the damage, the first of his two goals set-up by Colin Kazim-Richards.
While the beginning of this season's visit to the Turkish capital bore little resemblance to 1999, Chelsea will be hoping the conclusion is very much the same. The Blues on that occasion returned to London 5-0 winners.
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