CL: AC Milan (2) vs Barcelona (3) - 23/11/11

[ToonInvader]

hello guys,

Nice game yesterday night. entertaining. We werent shamful at all, we tried, we played well, no catenaccio, just the desire to give the show...I am really happy for that.

Maybe Iniesta would have added yet more threat but their bench was still 3* with fabregas, pedro, sanchez etc..

Where we didnt perform :

- Abate was a few times outplayed. I saw him very often and during dangerous phases behind his 1vs1. I think he doesnt read the game well when its not being played on his right flank. Balls + players coming from the left or from the center are threats he struggles to deal with.ex: crosses from the right, killer passes from messi in the middle etc..

- We gave too much space in the center. MvB was sometimes out of position. If we had a true DM-killer, the hole match would have been different. We needed a fit-strong-agressive-fast DM to run up and down the pitch and to add defensive weight during their 6 men tiki-taka phases in front of our goal

- We lacked the chance. Its a key factor in CL. Ref screwed up @ times. No penalty.

where we did perfrom

- our center backs were top. Abbiati great again

- dorf and aqua worked their ass of.

- I realized the potential we have in attack: WE are among the 3 biggest threats in attack in this CL. With Barca and Bayern.


With a good jan mercato ( a new DM), some work for Abate and progression for Binho we can go far in CL. Really. Playing Barça now was the real deal for us; we were qualified and we could play free in our mind to take the first place. I hope and i am sure itll give confidence to everyone, players + us, for the championship ( lets destroy chievo) and the next steps in CL.


We have our chances. Let's believe in each of them. Forza Milan, per sempre !

 

[Dottore Joey]

And Real Madrid.

 

[ToonInvader]

off course

 

[Bessmir]

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/ch...ls-ac-milan-could-be-among-barcelonas-biggest

You are right David Villa.

No David Villa - barcelona are our bigest rival for the UCL

 

[rosso_nero]

 

[AliAslamACM]

http://onside.dk/fodbold-video/champions-league/zlatan-barca-var-bedst

Poor Frida. q; Around 0:50 sec, she asked that did you greet Guardiola, he said: Why, is that important to you?

 

[AliAslamACM]

http://onside.dk/fodbold-video/champions-league/boateng-fedt-mal-men-ville-gerne-have-vundet

Prince interview in english. q:

 

[TS33]

I don't understand the negativity toward Aquilani. He ended up having to play more defensively due to Van Bommel and, to a lesser degree, Abate. He did that quite well for the most part as well, considering its not really his role within the midfield. The few chances he had to do anything creativity wise, he had the vision to see Seedorf, which lead to a goal. I think he'd be of better use as LCM but it seems Nocerino slots in there ahead of him.

You can argue that if Pato weren't selfish and had passed to Aquilani, he would've been in a better/clearer position to have a shot on goal as well.

Robinho really needs to work on his shooting. I realise it was a relatively hard one but those are the sort of chances you simply must get. It's Champion's League - sometimes you only have one chance a game.

KPB's goal looked a little 'How did I do that?'/a little bit special. Ibra's goal was good too; I just wish he'd pushed a little harder to really stick it up Barca.

Pato didn't do much but more couldn't really have been expected considering we were more or less cutting our midfield out of it near the final 15-20 mins of the game. The long balls were effective - when on target - but surely we can do better. Hopefully it'll further reiterate that we desperately need a good CAM and a new CM. Whether or not we get these is another matter altogether.

Good game overall. We definitely took it to them, which was great to see. Still can't believe the penalty though, especially from a player so highly regarded as Xavi. The own goal was very frustrating as well. But yeah, hopefully we'll walk away, plug the holes and have a decent chance at going far this year.

 

[Fiero]

They brand them the greatest ever, they compare them with Sacchi's Milan, yet the midget team from from the autonomous community in northeast Spain could only beat Allegri's Milan over two legs with a blatant dive.

 

[abbeyleemania]

Robinho please work on finishing and decisions.

Boateng please work on deep passes and passing game.

Abate please work on reading the game and on last touch.

Then we'll be better.

Our midfielders are easily dribbled by Barcelona players, thats one of my worries, Van Bommel, is my second worry, he is in decline compared to last year, we really need an anchor there.

Aquilani needs to improve. especially on defensive zone, tactically...

 

[abbeyleemania]

They brand them the greatest ever, they compare them with Sacchi's Milan, yet the midget team from from the autonomous community in northeast Spain could only beat Allegri's Milan over two legs with a blatant dive.

if Milan spends on the market and strentgth weakened spots, We'll beat them.

 

[Fiero]

if Milan spends on the market and strentgth weakened spots, We'll beat them.

That doesn't change the fact that they could only beat Milan in 2 games with a dive. Everything else is irrelevant.

 

[MonsterKane]

UEFA/FIFA = bunch of incest

 

[masterofnaiads]

Does anyone have statistics for this game?

Possession for starters?

 

[Congo Powers]

i thought barca's first 2 goals were weak

didnt think it was a PK

zlatan had a great game

prince's goal was astounding

i spent 50 dollars at the bar and blacked out ~30 minutes after the game

 

[Milanista_7]

Does anyone have statistics for this game?

Possession for starters?

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/555689/LiveStatistics/Europe-UEFA-Champions-League-2011-2012-AC-Milan-Barcelona

 

[Mr. Milanista]

I knew from the beginning we would lost because of the referee, why do always WE get the bad referees?

It's a shame Barca won because of a own goal and a blatan dive, really a shame, but with the referees these days you cant do nothing against it...

 

[acm55]

 

[Trillske]

Zlatan can but not under heavy pressure in midfield. Anyway, we want Zlatan around the box, not midfield, it's not wise to waste him back there.

On the contrary, thats exactly what he proved he can do. So either he just hit an incredible peak this game or he is simply capable of it. I´ve had hopes he has the ability, and last night he was 100% in those spots. Even as deep down as the defensive box, he handled the pressure and played his way forward without wasting possession. Not only did most players in Milan have a problem with that - most players in the world does - its Barcelona, the biggest test by some margin.

Im even more hopefull now that he is able to deal with a deeper position, either because there is another great finisher available, or if he gets older and slower, ect..

As for the second part I dont really agree. Last night he was invaluable deeper, and if there is someone else to take the striker role (i.e. a Pato that stops sucking) I think its a good solution. But yeah, when there is no one else he has to be there.

 

[IL-Capitano]

They brand them the greatest ever, they compare them with Sacchi's Milan, yet the midget team from from the autonomous community in northeast Spain could only beat Allegri's Milan over two legs with a blatant dive.

Sacchi and Capello's Milan's would have humiliated this Barca side. we played well enough but having watched it again we were a too loose in defense and Messi wasn't closed down quick enough on quite a few occasions, a direct result of Barca'a winning goal (their only genuine goal) their first an OG and the second a very very soft peno having said all that the game is over and clearly we need to improve in midfield. whoever we play in the last 16 we need to kill the tie as soon as possible and keep possession better than we did v Barca.

 

[acm55]

Abbiati 7
Abate 6
Nesta 6
Silva 7
Zambrotta 6
Aquilani 5
Van Bommel 5,5
Seedorf 6
Boateng 7,5
Ibra 7
Robinho 6

 

[ForzaSandro]

teams that we may be drawn against in the last 16 knockout stage:

Bayern Munich
Benfica/Man Utd.
Real Madrid¨
Leverkusen
Arsenal
APOEL/Zenit

United please. Time to undo the shame Leonardo brought on us. We'll beat them and beat them well, I have no doubts whatsoever.

 

[acm55]

Barcelona's David Villa believes AC Milan will be dangerous in this season's Champions League and could mount a serious challenge for the tournament crown.

Having drawn at the Camp Nou in the opening group fixture, the two sides met on Wednesday evening at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza with the Blaugrana emerging as 3-2 winners.

With two good performances against the reigning European champions, the Spain international expects the Rossoneri to do well in the competition.

"AC Milan are a great side who have put us in trouble twice," the striker told reporters after the match. "It was a completely different side to the one that we faced at home.

"I think that Milan can become one of our biggest rivals for the trophy, and it wouldn't surprise me if we met them in the quarter-finals or the semi-finals."

Both teams have qualified for the first knockout round of the competition, with Barcelona sitting top of Group H on 13 points, five points ahead of the second placed Italians.

Starting last week and continuing every Friday through to January, Goal.com will publish extracts from Graham Hunter's highly-anticipated book, Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World. This Friday, tune in for a new enthralling extract on how Joan Laporta and Sandro Rosell used David Beckham as a vote-winner in the club elections of 2003, even though a deal was already done between Manchester United and Real Madrid. Don't miss it!

 

[Dottore Joey]

Thank you Villa.

 

[NIRossoneri]

Barcelona's David Villa believes AC Milan will be dangerous in this season's Champions League and could mount a serious challenge for the tournament crown.

Having drawn at the Camp Nou in the opening group fixture, the two sides met on Wednesday evening at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza with the Blaugrana emerging as 3-2 winners.

With two good performances against the reigning European champions, the Spain international expects the Rossoneri to do well in the competition.

"AC Milan are a great side who have put us in trouble twice," the striker told reporters after the match. "It was a completely different side to the one that we faced at home.

"I think that Milan can become one of our biggest rivals for the trophy, and it wouldn't surprise me if we met them in the quarter-finals or the semi-finals."

Both teams have qualified for the first knockout round of the competition, with Barcelona sitting top of Group H on 13 points, five points ahead of the second placed Italians.

Starting last week and continuing every Friday through to January, Goal.com will publish extracts from Graham Hunter's highly-anticipated book, Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World. This Friday, tune in for a new enthralling extract on how Joan Laporta and Sandro Rosell used David Beckham as a vote-winner in the club elections of 2003, even though a deal was already done between Manchester United and Real Madrid. Don't miss it!

Sure sign of his imminent departure from barca, not toeing the wah-wah anti-football woe is us line.

 

[Ashish]

Thank you Abate.

fixed

 

[look]

Abbiati 7
Abate 6
Nesta 6
Silva 7
Zambrotta 6
Aquilani 5
Van Bommel 5,5
Seedorf 6
Boateng 7,5
Ibra 7
Robinho 6

Aquilani maded wonderful pass to Slowdorf before Ibra goal an more some good side changes can´t be 5 you stupid maybe 5.5 or 6.0

 

[Andromeda]

I missed the match because i can't stand to watch at 2 am and need to work at 7 am after that so my comments based on highlight from youtube. thanks God someone did a good job by produced some quality video and uefa haven't erase it yet

1. why on earth Barca squad looked like Teenage Mutant Ninja a.k.a my fave Michaelangelo ? look at thes pics, ignore the play button at Messi's nose i just fast captured it from video:







2. the pass from Messi to Keita was a world class pass and love the way Keita control the ball and let Van Bommel did the own goal. pitty for the result for us yet still brilliant act from Barca.

3. happy for Ibra because he can score against the club that made he feel wasted and show Pep some: this is for you Guardiola. and love his ponytail

4. Messi's 1st PK was riddiculous. ROFL to see Abbiati seemed so angry and how Messi let him fall first then just kicked the ball. i don't know was this supposed to give Messi yellow card and cancel the PK and let Abbiati do the goal kick or just re take the PK instead like what just happened ?

5. Love the way Prince do the jump or roll over but seriously we dont need other player to go with surgery .. that move for me was extremely danger because i can't do that and the goal ? that was two thumbs up

6. and another brilliant pass from Messi .. Xavi just need to make sure that 90% goal chance is happen and he did.

I wont bash Barca for like Fifa boys or something like that because i just love the way they play .. very beautiful. and for us.. we still put our leg in CL .. no need to worry. what we need to worry is Nesta is looking bald lately ...

ps. although I love Ibra because he scored and his ponytail is awesome but still he is a bad jinx to play in CL

 

[andresmilanista]

AFAIK, the first goal should'nt have been taken on count, since Xavi was in a clear Off-Side position. Even if he didn't score the goal, his off side was a part of the play.

The second goal was a big, aweful dive. No PK, for sure. Same goes to their second goal in Camp Nou, an aweful dive.

If the referees were not such a big bunch of pussies, the global score would've been 4-2 for us. 2-1 at Camp Nou and 2-1 at San Siro...

I hate Barça...

 

[ELMAGO99]

A lot to discuss and I plan to offer a detailed analysis as now I have a clear head nearly 1 day later. I am actually upset, not because the game meant all that much in the long run, but because I despise losing. True Champions hate losing, and I don't want to be satisfied with losing 2-3 at home to any team.

Before we discuss the tactics, mistakes, and positives of the match, I want to say I greatly disrespect players or teams that fall down and flop around. Even if it's my own team. Especially teams that beg for yellow or red cards. These players are not only cheaters, they're pussies. Football is not for soft cry-babies. Barcelona to me embodies this girl-like behavior, and it's disgraceful. I do not think it should have been a penalty on Aquilani, and if it was, there also should have been a penalty called for Robinho on the opposite end. I will not harp on the bad calls, because Abate also got away with a penalty in the 2nd half on Fabregas. So overall, no excuses.

As for mistakes, I don't understand why Seedorf continues to take corner kicks or free kicks. He always kicks way too short. We have Ibra, Nesta, Boateng, & T,Silva. 4 tall, strong players who head the ball well and we often take short corners. WHY? Put it in the box where we tower of those midgets, this is how we scored in the away fixture.

I also don't understand why our FB's pick up incoming runners through the middle. Why doesn't our CB's do that? I'm not an expert on defending but I don't understand why Abate was picking up Xavi running through the middle. We will know they will do that. That's their game. Chips and through balls through the middle. We should expect it all the time.

Robinho was disappointing in this game. Against smaller teams he is able to look so dominant but in big games he tends to get pushed around physically and taken out of the game. Also, the boy just can't finish. The shot he put over the bar is as easy as any shot throughout the season. I just don't understand how someone with such a great tough overall can be so poor and putting the ball in the back of the net, the main goal of a striker.

I really didn't even think we played that good and still barely lost. We deserved a draw of 2-2 with the supposed Best Team in the World. Barcelona move the ball around fantastically well and they're very strong. They've achieved so much. I have a great respect for them, but I also do not fear them, even more so after this game. They arrogantly play with 2 midfielders as Center Backs, one of them being a midget. We should have taken advantage of that more with Ibra and Pato sending through balls and over the top balls. We obviously need some new players soon, but even with the squad as is, I think we're very good, of the top 3-5 best in Europe. I am not happy with losing 2-3 at home though as Italian teams must not concede that many at home, ever.

Forza Milan


Abbiati: 7
Abate: 6
Zambrotta: 5.5
Nesta: 6.5
T.Silva: 7
Van Bommel: 6
Seedorf: 6.5
Aquilani: 5.5
Boateng: 6.5
Ibrahimovic: 6.5
Robinho: 5.5