Good evening and welcome to LIVE text coverage of one of the most eagerly-anticipated encounters of the season so far. It's Barcelona versus Bayern Munich in the first leg of a mouthwatering Champions League semi-final showdown. The stage is set and the atmosphere around the ground is already intoxicating as some of the world's finest footballers prepare to lock horns on the surface of one of the game's great stadiums. Throw in the Pep Guardiola factor and you've got a clash that is simply unmissable. We've got all the build up and team news right here. Kick off 7.45pm BST.

Champions League / Semi-final

Spotify Camp Nou / 06.05.2015

FC Barcelona

Completed

FC Bayern Munich

L. Messi(77', 80')
Neymar(90+4')

Live

Live Updates

ByThe Editorial Team

Updated 06/05/2015 at 20:38 GMT

17'

Cracking photo of that moment of madness from Neuer earlier.

16'

Some of your pre-match predictions. This one could well be a good shout.

15'

Suarez wreaks havoc on the right of the area and cuts a low cross towards Neymar that deflects off Rafinha and behind. Close!

13'

Looking like a matter of time until Barca score here.

12'

Suarez is sent clear on goal and goes one-on-one with Neuer. It looks like the inevitable opener but Neuer sticks out a long leg to divert the Uruguayan's low shot away. Big save by the German stopper.

11'

A brief stoppage allows me to bring you news via Twitter that affect Barca and their tv deal...

10'

It's end to end. Nothing cagey about this one. Both sides looking to attack at will.

STAT: Barcelona have only won one of their eight previous matches against Bayern Munich (D2 L5) in European competitions.

Sweeper keeper Neuer gets out of jail thanks to a flag for offside after a crazy rampage off his line.

Bayern all over the place at the back as Messi and Suarez are left two on two. The former Liverpool striker engineers some space to shoot but his 25-yarder doesn't have enough pace on it to truly trouble Neuer.

Bayern's system not quite what we'd all been led to believe prior to kick off.

Lots of early possession for Barca.

Suarez chases a ball into the box but is brushed aside by Boateng. The Uruguayan wants a penalty but the referee is having none of it. It would have been a cheap one.

The first thoughts on Lewandowski's mask are already making cheeky waves on Twitter.

All eyes are still lingering on the dugouts as the game gets underway. Good to see Enrique taking the time to welcome Pep.

KICK OFF! Bayern get us up and running donning their white away kit.

19.43

Here we go then. That unmistakable CL anthem is reverberating around the Nou Camp and Pep Guardiola arrives late to try to avoid the attention. No chance of that Pep!

19.40

Got a prediction or view on how this one is going to pan out? Fire it to me on Twitter: @paul_hassall

19.35

Pep Guardiola: "You don't stop Messi, in this form, no. In the last few months he has been unstoppable. He is too good. Maybe you can try different tactics like getting close to him, making it difficult for him to get the ball, put three players on him but against talent of this size then you cannot defend against it. We will have to look at other ways to win the game."

Image credit: LaPresse

19.30

Barca's front three have plundered a sensational 108 goals so far this term. Messi leads the way with 51, while Neymar has 33 and Luis Suarez 24. The Uruguayan missed the start of the season for his bite ban but has helped add a new dimension to the Catalan side's attack.

Luis liberates Leo: Why Suarez has made Messi even better

19.25

Lionel Messi has been involved in three of Barcelona’s last five goals against Bayern in the Champions League (2 goals, 1 assist). Can he torment his old boss tonight and cap a century of appearances in Europe with a match-winning display?

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