Ancelotti: Bayern can´t lose sleep worrying about Madrid

Bayern are looking to recover their "bete noire" nickname, given to them by Real fans after Munich won eight of 14 matches against Real between 2000 and 2012.

Team-mate Arjen Robben and Real midfielder Toni Kroos are two others coming up against their former employers. "It's a European cracker featuring two top teams". Just look at the accounts to realise how well-directed Madrid is by Florentino.

"He has had a huge impact here".

"I know him very well and he knows me very well but that doesn't mean anything", he said.

"They will be two fantastic games".

Under Guardiola, Bayern dominated teams from the start, wracking up big Bundesliga leads and setting records for consecutive games unbeaten and earliest title wins, but the players ultimately suffered from the intensity needed to maintain that level through a full season.

Having also won the competition twice with AC Milan, Ancelotti would become the first man to win it in charge of three different clubs. The defeat included a red card for Neymar and damaged their chances of retaining the La Liga title.

When asked if Barca's latest domestic setback would impact the tie, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri was dismissive. "Barcelona are a team which is used to playing big matches like this".

"We're all excited for Wednesday night and it's going to be a great occasion, but we have to improve on that performance today", Marc Albrighton said.

Monaco have scored a whopping tally of 133 goals in all competitions this season, including a bundle by teenage standout Kylian Mbappe. Ancelotti will certainly be desperate to unleash the prolific 28-year-old against Zinedine Zidane's defensive ranks.

For now, City will not yield, but Rodriguez could still head for the Manchester club this summer.

Dortmund have class strikers to rely on of its own, led by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's 32 goals overall.

But Dortmund is facing serious injury worries. Los Blancos made quick work out of Napoli in the Round of 16 and have not lost a domestic match since falling on the road to Valencia on February 22.

Real Madrid enters the match in mostly good health but is lacking at center back with longtime starter Pepe (rib) and Raphael Varane (hamstring) unavailable.

Bayern's top-scorer Robert Lewandowski, with 38 goals in all competitions this season, is up against Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, with 26 goals from 36 games.

With 34 goals in 161 games for Corinthians and a number of caps for Brazil having featured at the Confederations Cup, Paulinho arrived with great promise as a box-to-box midfielder - but like many before him, the move from South America to the Premier League proved too hard.

K. wards Ancelotti with a solid margin of 10 points is leading the table in the Bundesliga, and are unlikely to miss another championship.

Bayern will definitely be without Germany centre-back Mats Hummels, who injured ankle ligaments in training on Sunday and is doubtful for the return leg on April 18.