Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 9y

Bayern Munich's Thiago Alcantara has respect for Barcelona

Bayern Munich's Thiago Alcantara has said he does not need to "settle the score" with Barcelona when he returns to his former club in the Champions League.

Bayern have been drawn against Barcelona in the semifinals of the competition, with the first leg to be played at the Camp Nou on May 6.

Alcantara, 24, left the Liga club for the Allianz Arena in 2013, reuniting with former Barca coach Pep Guardiola in the Bundesliga.

"That's indeed a very special fixture," he told Sport Bild. "I don't need to settle the score. I have the greatest respect for Barcelona, and I owe them a lot. I learned my trade at La Masia, that's where I grew up."

Earlier this month, Thiago returned from a knee injury which ruled the Spain international out for over a year.

The playmaker suffered several setbacks during his rehabilitation and, while not "fearing for his career," he said that he rushed his first comeback following the initial injury in late March 2014.

This resulted in another knee injury only weeks before the 2014 World Cup.

"I was very ambitious after my first knee injury," he said. "I was at fault. I really wanted to make the World Cup in Brazil, and rushed my comeback. After that I lacked trust in my knee."

Meanwhile, Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, 30, has said Barcelona will need "two top performances" to defeat Bayern.

The Spain international added that he was particularly impressed with Bayern's 6-1 second-leg comeback against FC Porto.

"It once again showed that there is actually no good first leg result against teams coached by Pep Guardiola," Iniesta said. "Nothing is impossible for Guardiola."

Back in 2013, Bayern emerged as 7-0 aggregate winners when playing Barcelona during the same stage of the competition, but Iniesta insisted that they are not out for revenge.

"You can't just compare it that easily," he said. "Their team has changed, and they have a new coach in Pep. But one thing has not changed. They are still one of the best teams in the world."

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