Pep talk dominates Champions League

Pep Guardiola is returning to the Nou Camp after the Champions League semi-final draw threw up a fascinating clash between Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

Pep talk dominates Champions League

Pep Guardiola is returning to the Nou Camp after the Champions League semi-final draw threw up a fascinating clash between Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

To lead Bayern to the final in Berlin, the Spaniard will have to overcome the club he achieved so much with as a player and manager.

Guardiola’s four-season spell at the Barca helm yielded 14 trophies, including two triumphs in the Champions League – something he will now look to deny them.

Bayern will have home advantage for the second leg of the semi-final, with the winner taking on Serie A giants Juventus or holders Real Madrid in the final.

Carlo Ancelotti's side secured their place in the last four by sneaking past city rivals Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, thanks to Javier Hernandez's last-gasp decider.

That saw Real through to the semi-finals for a fifth year in a row, although Juventus will look to halt their quest to become the first side to retain the Champions League.

The ’Old Lady’ have the best record of all the semi-finalists, having progressed to the final on seven of their 10 appearances at this juncture.

This is the first time Juventus have made the last-four of UEFA’s flagship club competition since 2003, when a Pavel Nedved-inspired side won the second leg against Real 3-1 – 4-3 on aggregate – overturning a 2-1 first-leg deficit.

Friday’s draw at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon leaves open the possibility of a first ever Barcelona v Real Madrid final.

Barca reached the semi-finals for the seventh time in eight seasons by comfortably overcoming Paris Saint Germain 5-1 on aggregate, extending the Catalan club’s unbeaten run to a 13th game in the process.

Opponents Bayern stormed into a fourth successive semi-final by overwhelming Porto 6-1 in Munich, making light work of their 3-1 first-leg loss in Portugal.

The first legs will be played on May 5 and 6, with the return matches a week later.

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