UEFA Champions League Semifinals Draw Results & Schedule: Real Madrid vs Juventus, FC Barcelona vs Bayern Munich Set in May
Real Madrid will resume their title defense against Juventus in the Champions League semifinals, while FC Barcelona were drawn against Bayern Munich.
Real Madrid, who defeated Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinal, got the result that they were wishing for as they were paired with Juventus, who are considered by most analysts as the fourth-best team among this year's semifinalists.
Carlo Ancelotti and his squad were pleased with the draw, but the Real Madrid coach reiterated that they have no room for complacency as all teams in the semifinals are capable of pulling off surprises.
Real Madrid, who are aiming to win their 11th European title in club history, last faced Juventus in the Champions League semifinals in 2003. Real Madrid took a 2-1 win in the opening leg, but Juventus scored a 3-1 win in the second leg to advance to the final, where they eventually lost to Italian Serie A rival AC Milan.
The first leg of their match will be on May 5 in Turin, while the second leg will be on May 13 in Madrid.
On the other hand, FC Barcelona will continue their bid to dethrone their Spanish La Liga rival, but they will have to get past Bayern Munich first in the semifinals.
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola will have a fair share of the spotlight in the semifinals as he will be facing his former club, which he helped win Champions League titles in 2009 and 2011. The 44-year-old manager is looking forward to returning to Camp Nou, which he said will be a special moment for him and his staff.
"It is indeed special for me, but also Thiago and for my staff. Barcelona was our life," Guardiola said. "There's nothing bad I can say about my old club. I have great respect for them and I will never forget this match and this experience. I was successful there, but I am happy to be at Munich now."
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich also collided in the 2013 semifinals where the Bundesliga powerhouse club defeated their Spanish rivals, 7-0 on aggregate, which became the most lopsided win by any team in a UEFA Champions League semifinal.
The first leg of the Bayern Munich-FC Barcelona match will be on May 6 at Camp Nou, while the second leg will be on May 12 in Munich.
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