It had to happen at some point. From the moment in May 2012 when Pep Guardiola announced his four-year stint as Barcelona coach was coming to an end, the Catalan club’s supporters knew the day would come when their side would have to take on the man who had led them to unprecedented success.
Two Champions League titles, three La Ligas, and two Club World Cups were among 14 trophies collected by Guardiola during his time at Camp Nou, giving both him and the club a tough legacy to match in the succeeding years.
After a one-year sabbatical, the 44-year-old took the reins at then-European champions Bayern Munich and was asked to reproduce his Barca miracles in Germany. Now he will get the perfect opportunity to gauge his progress after Friday’s Champions League semi-final draw pitched Bayern against Barca.
While the Bavarians could be crowned German champions for a second time under Guardiola this weekend, doubts remain about the greater influence he has had on the five-time European champions. Last season’s semi-final hammering by Real Madrid has not been forgotten, while many were doubting his qualities after Porto took a significant first-leg lead in this month’s quarter-finals.
The perfect answer to any doubts would be to record a victory over the club with whom he made his name, the club with which he still remains indelibly linked. When you think Guardiola, you still think Barcelona first and Bayern second. But this semi-final tie gives him the chance to address that. He took over at the Allianz Arena with the brief of building Bayern up to be what the Blaugrana had been - Europe's undisputed kings.
But it does not provide an opportunity to Guardiola alone. Luis Enrique’s record with Barcelona has been phenomenal thus far. He has chalked up more wins in his first 50 games in charge than any other coach in the club’s history, but the fortunes of others before also mean his spell will only be judged on his ability to gain silverware.
Tata Martino’s failure to build on a firm foundation in all three major competitions in 2013-14 was his ultimate downfall, and at the moment Luis Enrique could replicate either Guardiola or his immediate predecessor. A semi-final victory over the man who made the modern Barcelona what they are would lay a great marker for the former Roma and Celta Vigo boss.
Real Madrid or Juventus will await the winner in June’s showpiece final in Berlin, but it is hard not to feel as though this is the clash of the titans most people wanted to see somewhere along the line.
The dynasty that Pep built against his current work in progress. The official changing of the guard or the proof that life goes on for the greatest club of the last decade. One of the most fascinating ties in living memory awaits.
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