Pep Guardiola feels like Real Madrid are the team to beat as Manchester City chase a historic treble.
Having beaten the Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich to make the last four of the Champions League, the Blues now have no choice but to make it past the Spanish heavyweights if they are to make the final after being pitted against them in the next round of the draw. Having won the competition 14 times and achieved unprecedented domination over the last decade, Real are the side that Guardiola thinks everyone looks to in the competition.
Among a string of remarkable comebacks on their way to winning the Champions League last season, Real were trailing City by two goals going into the 180th minute of their tie but came back from the dead to cause more heartbreak for City and their manager in this competition. Next month, there is the chance for revenge.
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"I think all the clubs in the world have the feeling if you want to win this competition you have to beat Real Madrid," said Guardiola. "It used to be Barcelona but now it’s Madrid.
"I’m so happy to be three years in a row in the Champions League semi-finals. 4-1 doesn’t show what was in the two games, I know how good they are, the physicality and ideas, - I'm always impressed. In this competition it’s the details."
The opening leg of the semi-final against Real Madrid will take place at the Bernabeu on either Tuesday, May 9, or Wednesday, May 10. The crucial return leg will then take place at the Etihad on either May 16 or May 17.
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