Champions League: How did the semi-finalists warm up?
- Published
All four Champions League semi-finalists were in action on Saturday as they prepare for this week's second legs.
A red card, a title bid in tatters, a key player returning from injury and only one win - BBC Sport looks at who has had the best warm-up.
Bayern Munich v Barcelona (Tuesday, 12 May; 19:45 BST; first leg 0-3)
Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola, formerly the Barcelona manager, probably needs the greatest performance of his managerial career to reach the Champions League final.
So the best way to warm-up is not to play 76 minutes with 10 men and bring on the key man you had intended to rest.
Despite having already won the German Bundesliga title, Guardiola decided to name the majority of his first-choice players against FC Augsburg. However, keeper Manuel Neuer, midfielders Xabi Alonso and defenders Mehdi Benatia and Rafinha were left on the bench.
Within 14 minutes, Neuer had to come on anyway after Bayern keeper Pepe Reina, in his third appearance for the club, was sent off for fouling Raul Bobadilla.
Paul Verhaegh hit the post with the penalty that Reina conceded, but Augsburg's Bobadilla ended up scoring the winner himself with a clever flick in a 1-0 victory.
Guardiola said: "Playing 80 minutes with 10 men three days after the game in Barcelona wasn't easy, but we still controlled the match.
"We'll regenerate and prepare for the semi-final [second leg] now. We're already German champions and that's the most important thing."
Bayern go into the second leg with no momentum at all, having lost all four matches since they secured the league title, including a penalty shootout defeat by Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup semi-final.
Barcelona, on the other hand, come into the game in sensational form and look confident that they can win the treble.
Luis Enrique was able to make five changes - including benching Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets - but his side still managed to beat David Moyes's Real Sociedad 2-0, to move to within one victory of the title.
In fact (presuming the suspension on the league is lifted) they can win the title next weekend at Atletico Madrid, the current champions.
Pedro even gave Enrique plenty to think about with his team selection, as he came on to score a brilliant bicycle kick to late on.
The Spanish Cup finalists have now kept seven consecutive clean sheets, scoring 25 goals in those matches.
Real Madrid v Juventus (Wednesday, 13 May; 19:45 BST; first leg 1-2)
Real Madrid. Oh dear. Where do we start?
The European champions left their title hopes in ruins after drawing 2-2 with Valencia. The Catalans are now four points clear with two games to go.
Real's front three will all have had their confidence somewhat sapped - neither Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo nor Javier Hernandez scored. All three hit the woodwork and Ronaldo even found time to miss a penalty.
To make matters worse, German midfielder Toni Kroos came off injured midway through the first half and Real boss Carlo Ancelotti had to bring off both his full-backs at the break.
And to add to their concerns, Juventus - who won the first leg without one of the world's best midfielders - welcomed their key man back on Saturday.
Paul Pogba had been out for almost two months with a hamstring injury suffered in the Champions League last-16 tie with Borussia Dortmund.
But the France superstar started as Juventus drew 1-1 with struggling Cagliari and even managed to score.
Pogba struck from 20 yards out late in the first half and was substituted 18 minutes after the break.
Cagliari went on to level, but with Juventus, whose hopes of a treble are still intact, having already wrapped up the Italian title, they will be happy with their day's work.
Juventus, who secured their fourth consecutive Serie A title last weekend, face Lazio in the Coppa Italia final on 7 June.
Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri said: "Paul put in a decent display and is in a good physical condition. It was important for him to regain his judgement of distances in the middle of the park.
"I won't know my starting line-up right until the last minute. We know it will be a very difficult game in Madrid and a different one entirely, a more attacking affair.
"We passed up four or five decent chances in the first leg, we'll have to put them away at the Bernabeu if we want to go through."
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