Rival bosses ready for 'special match'

Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique are anticipating a "special match" after Barcelona and Bayern Munich were drawn together in the Champions League semi-finals.

The first leg will see Guardiola return to the Nou Camp for the first time since resigning in 2012 as the most successful coach in Barcelona's history, winning 14 trophies in four years.

Enrique is now the man in charge of the Catalan giants and was a midfield partner of Guardiola at Barca in the 1990s.

"It is a special game because Pep is on the other side, it will be the first time that he has faced his Barca, it will be the first time that I have faced him as a coach, which will be special for me, and I am sure it will also be for my players," Enrique said.

Those sentiments were echoed by his opposite number, who also highlighted the sub-plot of brothers Thiago and Rafinha Alcantara facing each other.

"Everyone understands how special this game is for me, for Thiago and my staff," said Guardiola, who joined Bayern in 2013 after taking a year away from the game.

"Barcelona was our life. When you are in a semi-final then you will always face a big team. What can I say? Barcelona is my home.

"It will be a special game. We have to analyse Barcelona. Barcelona are the best team at the moment. I am not surprised. He (Luis Enrique) has a lot of quality. He is a great guy and I am happy I will be facing him."

Bayern hammered Porto 6-1 on Tuesday to book their place in the semi-finals. The last time they met Barcelona at this stage of the competition it finished 7-0 on aggregate in 2013, but Enrique says Bayern have been the unlucky ones in the draw.

"In a draw like this I always think the team that has to play against this Barca has had little luck," he added.

"Bayern aspire to win everything like us and they have the best coach. Pep is the best because he has won many titles, because of his style of football and how he has adapted to a new country with a very difficult language."