Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola may well be setting his side up a little more cautiously than usual, as he returns to face his former club, Barcelona, in the Champions League semifinal. His 4-3-1-2 formation suggests that he's packing the midfield, with Thiago Alcântara playing slightly ahead of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso.
Bayern Munich pack the center while Barcelona line up as expected
Is Pep Guardiola being cautious on his return to Barcelona?
Barcelona, meanwhile, line up pretty much exactly as expected. Their terrifying front three of Neymar, Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi is intact, ahead of a midfield of Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitić. Marc-André ter Stegen displaces domestic goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
These are the two best teams on the planet, and this should be a brilliant game. Don’t miss it.
Barcelona starting lineup (4-3-3): Marc-André ter Stegen, Jordi Alba, Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique, Dani Alves; Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitić; Neymar, Luis Suárez, Lionel Messi.
Bayern Munich starting lineup (4-3-1-2): Manuel Neuer; Juan Bernat, Jérôme Boateng, Medhi Benatia, Rafinha; Bastian Schweinsteiger, Xabi Alonso, Philipp Lahm; Thiago Alcântara; Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller.
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