The Morning Sports Briefing

Guardiola takes on old friend in tactical battle, Juve edge Real in first leg, Mayweather agrees to rematch, Tiger is struggling and what to watch out for

Bayern Munich’s Spanish head coach Pep Guardiola attends a press conference at Joan Gamper sports complex in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona ahead of his team’s Champions League semi final first leg. Photo: Alberto Estevez/EPA
Bayern Munich’s Spanish head coach Pep Guardiola attends a press conference at Joan Gamper sports complex in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona ahead of his team’s Champions League semi final first leg. Photo: Alberto Estevez/EPA

Soccer: Champions League

Former team mates for club and country, Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique will again meet this afternoon in Barcelona's famous Camp Nou stadium, as Guardiola returns to the club where he brought such unprecedented success with his new Bayern Munich team.

Enrique has large shoes to fill but he’s been doing a decent job so far and tonight’s tie will be a true test of his tactical nous against a man who’s tactics defined much of his team’s style.

For an injury depleted Bayern, Robert Lewandowski has said that he is keen to play, with a mask, after he fractured his nose, upper jaw and suffered a concussion in their German Cup loss on penalties to Borussia Dortmund last week.

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In last night's first semi-final it was first blood to Juventus as they continued their fine home form with a 2-1 win over reigning champions Real Madrid.

The La Liga outfit were outclassed for large periods with record signing Gareth Bale anonymous for long spells and Sergio Ramos struggling in a midfield role.

Boxing: Rematch

Floyd Mayweather has said he will fight Many Pacquiao again next year after the Filipino has recovered from shoulder surgery. Mayweather had said after his victory last weekend, which brought his tally to 48-0 that he would have one more fight before retiring. He is 38, while his illustrious opponent in 36, but the first fight generated a speculated $180m for Mayweather and for Pacquiao $120m.

Golf: Players Championship

Tiger Woods says he's having sleepless nights ahead of the Players Championship at Sawgrass, upset over his recent break-up with Lindsey Vonn and the anniversary of his father's death also taking it's toll.

“It is tough. There’s no doubt. I’m not going to lie about that, it is tough,” he told reporters. This will be his first tournament since the Masters, hoping to win the title he last secured two years ago.

Rugby: Pro12

Munster head coach Anthony Foley admits his Munster team have a tough task ahead of them as the take on an Ulster team who remain unbeaten at home.

The sides meet in a potential Pro 12 semi-final preview and Foley is wary of Ulster’s strength in the breakdown area and their kicking quality.

Leinster scrumhalf Eoin Reddan has said he's only once before finished a season not competing for a trophy, that was ten years ago. Matt O'Connor's side have two games to hold on to a Champions Cup qualification place and Reddan is determined that they can do it.

GAA: Jim the pundit

Former All-Ireland winning Donegal manager Jim McGuinness has been unveiled as a pundit for Sky Sports ahead of the summer's championship; "I'd like to challenge myself in that area to see what I can do and what I can offer."

What to watch out for:

Their's tennis action with the ATP Madrid Open continuing from noon today.

Sky Sports 3, noon-10.30pm

While the big one tonight is the Champions League semi-final between Barca and Bayern Munich. That kicks-off at 7.45pm.

RTE 2 from 7.30pm

Sky Sports 1 from 7pm