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Pep Guardiola: 'Barcelona are the strongest side'

Pep Guardiola concedes that Barcelona are stronger than his Bayern Munich side ahead of their Champions League semi-final meeting.

Pep Guardiola has admitted that Barcelona are the best side in Europe after his Bayern Munich team were drawn against them in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

It was confirmed on Friday that Guardiola would return to his former club for the first time since leaving in 2012, and the Spaniard believes that Bayern could not have faced a tougher test following their emphatic triumph over Porto in the last eight.

"Obviously, Barcelona were one of the options. I have enjoyed a lot of success at Barca, but I am very happy to be here at Bayern. It's fine for me. Barcelona are of course the best out there," he told reporters.

"I am grateful to get this chance to return to Barcelona with Bayern. It is something very special.

"I cannot say anything bad about Barcelona. I have nothing but respect for Barca. I will never forget these two games. We will need the entire team to beat Barcelona. Believe me, they are the strongest."

Guardiola won 14 trophies during his four-year spell in charge of Barcelona.

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Bayern Munich's Spanish head coach Pep Guardiola (L) looks on during the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Bayern Munchen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 23, 2014
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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