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Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola: 'Barcelona still the best'

Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola believes that Barcelona are still the best team in Europe, despite their Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid.

Pep Guardiola has claimed that Barcelona are still the best team in Europe after his Bayern Munich side were drawn against the former's Champions League conquerors Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals.

Barca's season has stuttered in recent weeks with three defeats in four games which has seen them go out of the Champions League and seemingly let both Atletico and Real Madrid back into the La Liga title race.

Guardiola, who managed the Catalans between 2008 and 2012, still thinks that Barca are the best, but he is wary of facing Atletico in the last four.

"I still think Barcelona are the best team in Europe, even if they've been knocked out," Guardiola told reporters.

"In my eyes, Barcelona are still the best team. They have [Lionel] Messi, the best player in the world, but over two legs it can happen that you get knocked out.

"Anything can happen. For a decade, Atletico could never beat Real, and then Diego Simeone arrived and everything has changed. I'm really curious about these games. They have the best atmosphere in Europe."

Bayern's director of sport Matthias Sammer has also highlighted Atletico's team spirit, describing the Rojiblancos as "passion monsters".

"It's going to be extremely difficult," Sammer said. "Atletico are passion monsters; honest and authentic, from what I can gather.

"But not only passion will decide this semi-final. That is going to come into it, but many other things like the stadium, the pitch and quality are also important."

The first leg between Bayern and Atleti takes place in Spain on either April 26 or 27 before the return leg at the Allianz Arena a week later.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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