Pep to start against Barcelona

Berlin - Pep Guardiola's first game as Bayern Munich coach is set to be against his former club Barcelona with the Spanish giants to be hosted in a friendly at Munich's Allianz Arena on July 24.

Guardiola will succeed Jupp Heynckes as Bayern coach on July 1 and three weeks later the Bundesliga leaders will take on Barcelona in a charity match for the Uli Hoeness Cup, named after the current Munich president.

Having won 14 titles in his four years as Barcelona coach, Bayern pulled off a major coup for the German league by signing Guardiola on a three-year deal.

All revenue from the match will be donated to charity and the club are billing the game as Hoeness' belated 60th birthday present.

"I'm really looking forward to the game and especially because I can use the money to support special causes," said Hoeness.

Hoeness has previously revealed that it was after a match between Bayern and Barcelona in July 2011 in Munich that Guardiola first mentioned he would like to coach the Bavarian giants.

Guardiola quit Barcelona at the end of last season and has been living in New York with his family while Bayern announced on January 16 that he will be their head coach for the 2013/14 season.