Bayern Munich head coach Pep Guardiola returns to Barcelona for the first time since leaving the club in 2012 with a place in the Champions League final on the line.

Barcelona will have the chance to avenge their 2013 humbling by Bayern Munich after being paired with the Germans again in the Champions League semi-final draw. Former Barca coach Pep Guardiola was on a year's sabbatical at the time but will enjoy the challenge of his first return to Camp Nou since taking over at Bayern.

The Spaniard, a long-time Barca player, won 14 trophies in a four-year spell as head coach, including two Champions League titles.

Bayern midfielder Thiago Alcantara, lured to Bayern by Guardiola last season, is also a Barcelona youth product. "Everyone understands how special this game is for me, for Thiago and my staff," Guardiola told reporters. "Barcelona was our life. When you are in a semi-final then you will always face a big team. What can I say? Barcelona is my home."

Bayern, who are chasing a repeat of their 2013 treble, are closing in on the Bundesliga title and are through to the last four of the German Cup as well. Guardiola has said a domestic double this season would not be enough for the Bavarians.

"It will be a special game. We have to analyse Barcelona," he said, heaping praise on coach Luis Enrique, a former team mate. "Barcelona are the best team at the moment. I am not surprised."

Barcelona last won the Champions League in 2011 under Guardiola, while Bayern claimed their fifth European crown in 2013, before the Spanish coach took charge. "Now they have brought in Neymar, Suarez. They have a new coach," said Guardiola.

"Other than that they play still the same, with the same mentality."

Bayern, who play the second leg at home, will go into the tie on a high after their 6-1 quarter-final second-leg demolition of Porto but Barcelona were similarly impressive in dispatching a powerful Paris St Germain side 5-1 on aggregate.

"On Tuesday we played one of the best halfs in the history of the Champions League," said Paul Breitner, Bayern's representative at the draw, about the 6-1 demolition of Porto.

"We have to do that over the entire two games against Barcelona."

Jordi Mestre, Barcelona vice-president, said: "Guardiola obviously knows us well but we also know him and his way of playing, while Luis Enrique and Guardiola know each other very well and it is another element to the game."

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