Pep under pressure to win it
Bayern refuse to let sleeping Drogs lie after 2012
is under intense pressure to make City kings of Europe for the first time.
He had countless acrimonious battles with Real during his time as Barca boss and will face a hostile reception in the Bernabeu after making no secret of his dislike of the La Liga outfit.
The mouth-watering clash will also be a repeat of the 2016 semi-final, when a single goal over two legs was enough to take Real through to the final at City’s expense.
City have not got past the quarter-finals since Guardiola took charge in 2016.
But director of football Txiki Begiristain said his club had to beat the best to be the best.
He said: “It is a difficult one. Real have won 13 times so they are the best. We want to be the best so we want to beat them.
“We know what we are going to face but they know our team and our manager.
“We have to keep connected to all of the competitions and we will have chances to win some. In the league, Liverpool are many points ahead, but we have to be connected.”
Jurgen Klopp’s reigning champions will be confident of overcoming Atletico, the runners-up in 2014 and 2016.
The Reds will be boosted by happy memories of the Wanda Metropolitano, where they won last season’s Champions League final against Spurs.
Chelsea will be underdogs against Bayern, although boss Frank Lampard could take inspiration from returning to the stadium where he won the Champions League as a player in 2012.
Tottenham appear to have the most favourable draw among the English teams, against RB Leipzig.
The first legs will be played on February 18, 19, 25 and 26 with the return matches on March 10, 11, 17 and 18.
In the Europa League, Manchester United face Club Bruges, Arsenal take on Olympiakos, while Wolves meet Espanyol.