Bayern take on Barca, Real play Dortmund

Posted Saturday, April 13, 2013 by Foxsports.com

Newly-crowned German champions Bayern Munich will face fellow four-time European champions Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Bayern, who lost last season's final on their own ground to Chelsea, will bid to make their second consecutive final at Wembley on May 25, with the first leg of the semi-final to be played in Munich on April 23.

The draw means there will not be a repeat of three seasons ago when La Liga rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid met in the semi-finals, with Borussia Dortmund drawing Jose Mourinho's side.

Madrid, who are semi-finalists for a record 24th time and in the final four for the third successive season, will play the second leg of their semi-final against Dortmund at home.

They avoided a final-four clash with Barcelona, who are making a record sixth successive semi-final appearance, but instead will face the only team still unbeaten in the competition this season.

Dortmund scored twice in injury time in their quarter-final second leg tie against Malaga to progress to the last four for the first time in 15 years.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is relishing a test against a side he holds in such high regard.

"Barcelona are the benchmark for me in Europe. They have won the Champions League more than any other team in the recent years," Rummenigge told UEFA.com.

"They are the best team in Europe at the moment, with fantastic attacking potential.

"We played them in 2009 and received a real thumping. I remember that game well and I don't really like to think about it, because it was quite painful to watch. However, it's a wonderful opportunity to show that we have improved a lot since then."

Rummenigge also denied that playing the opening match at home is a disadvantage.

"I think we will see two very good games, played at the highest possible level," he said.

"Furthermore, I think playing at home first is a slight advantage, contrary to the popular belief that it's a disadvantage.

"We saw that against Juventus, where people said that it might be a disadvantage. But we produced a great performance at home and that set the stage for the return leg and our progression into the semi-finals.

"I'm really excited that we will get to play the best team in Europe. I still feel Barcelona are the big favourites to win the Champions League."

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke was pleased to have drawn a Spanish opponent and avoid an all-Bundesliga tie with Bayern.

Dortmund have already played Real twice in this season's competition, winning the first Group D meeting on home soil 2-1 before drawing 2-2 at the Bernabeu.

"We are happy with this draw - not because we think it's an easy one, but because the Champions League is an international competition and we wanted an international game rather than a national tie against Bayern," Watzke said.

"I don't think Madrid will be afraid because of what happened in the group stage.

"They will respect us, just like we will respect them."

Bayern will play Barcelona on 23 April and May 1, while Dortmund and Real will face each other on April 24 and 30.

Real manager Mourinho, who has guided the Spanish side to their third successive semi-final, has matched Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's record of seven appearances in the last four of the European Cup.

The Portuguese has also reached this stage with Porto, Inter Milan and Chelsea.

Former Real striker and club ambassador Emilio Butragueno insisted Dortmund will not be taken lightly even though they have been absent from the final stages of the tournament for a decade and a half.

"It's a pleasure and honour for us to be here," Butragueno said.

"We have a lot of respect for Borussia Dortmund.

"We played them twice (in the group stage) but didn't manage to beat them.

"This time we hope it will different as we want to be in the final, that's what we are all dreaming of."