CL: Barcelona (2) vs AC Milan (2) - 13/09/2011

[ReBorned]

Or, imagine Pirlo losing the ball before he even gets it.

Or imagine Pirlo... No, don't imagine at all.

 

[MilanMB]

91'27'' - the time (in minutes & seconds) between AC Milan's two goals tonight. Stretch.

 

[alwaysazzurri]

Amazing game, what a performance by Nesta! This feels like a win, rather than a draw, like the following article by (clearly a Milan Fan) Scott suggests: Milan win 2-2

 

[AliAslamACM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs2xEACR9og

Pato did it Weah style. :,)

 

[Sod-Lod]

Last-gasp Thiago Silva AC Milan, great draw with Barça: 2-2 Milano, 14 September 2011

Pato caught the catalans napping in the opening seconds at the camp nou, then barcelona took over the reins and turned the score line around through pedro and villa's majestic free kick. When all seemed lost, the brazilian centre-back rose to power home a 92nd minute equaliser.

A goal after 24 seconds wasn't enough to inspire ac milan to victory at the camp nou; all it did was inspire the hosts to dominate the rest of the game. But when barcelona had victory in their sights, the heart and class of thiago silva came good and brought the score line to 2-2. So a rossoneri side that played fairly well and were good defensively, but that quickly shrank back into two very compact defensive lines and lacked a cutting edge, left with a huge point bulging in their pocket. Perhaps not entirely deserved but a testament to the european pedigree of ac milan - a team that never lies down in the champions league. Maybe massimiliano allegri was right: It's easy with hindsight but surely it would have been better to save cassano for the second half? Which is what our max had suggested he would do in the pre-match press conference. Because when the rossoneri were chasing the game and the manager looked over to his subs bench, all he could see was midfielders and defenders. The equaliser came from a dead-ball situation, a rare chink in the armour of guardiola's team, who are no giants.

choices — so allegri proved galliani right and went with a 4-3-1-2 formation, nocerino getting the nod over ambrosini in midfield. The idea was to give barça's back line – shaky without piqué and puyol - more to cope with, troubling them with pato's pace.

exact science — for once football was. Hypothesis becoming fact after just 24 seconds. Ac milan took the kick-off and, from above, you could clearly see the poor positioning of mascherano and busquets, guardiola's emergency centre-backs. Pato spotted the gaping hole behind them, ignored also by keita, and with a burst squeezed through like few other could. Breezing past his opponents like michael jordan at the height of his success. No one could get near him and the papero made no mistake when faced by valdes.

treasure it — that marked the end of one game and the start of another. With ac milan on the back foot. Inevitably. Van bommel patrolled in front of the defence, a master at closing down and doubling up, abate put in a more than dignified performance against villa and pedro (who constantly switched flanks), nesta made two crucial interceptions to confirm that he has already put the lazio match behind him. You felt that if milan could get hold of the ball, they could cause damage on the break with pato (cassano and boateng were less incisive). But therein lay the rub - touching the ball. Seedorf was suffocated by barça's pressing and cassano couldn't keep possession when he was supposed to be holding the ball up for milan to build their own moves. It was a tough ask to hold on to a single-goal lead in such conditions.

more barcelona — the blaugrana began teasing abbiati through messi, a man worth an entire strike force by himself, then el pulga hit the post with a free kick in the 18th minute. Allegri had constructed a cage for the argentinian but messi is unreal when he's running at defenders at speed. And that is precisely how barcelona levelled, just as the catalans were getting into their stride: Leo stuck a kers onto his quads and hit the boost button, driving past abate on the outside and rolling a sugar-coated ball into the middle that not even the recently misfiring pedro couldn't miss.

same script — unfortunately it was the same story after the restart. With ac milan defending and unable to break. Xaxi tested abbiati's reflexes with a fine strike from outside the box, then cassano took another half point off his final mark by committing a foul on busquets on the edge of the area that led to david villa's inch-perfect curled free kick. 2-1 to barça.

valdes dozes off — in the 62nd minute allegri recomposed the tactical set-up he had in mind the day before the game. Cassano came off, emanuelson on. But not even with this new set-up could milan penetrate or create anything. Valdes awoke from his slumber to collect a header by papero, who faded as the match wore on. That was the rossoneri's first corner of the game. Barça, with puyol having come on to partner mascherano at the back, were like a cat playing with a mouse.

thiago towers — corners, we were saying. Abate managed to win one - milan's second of the night - off abidal. A furious puyol got himself booked while demanding a free kick for his team. Maybe he knew what was coming. Seedorf floated it in thiago silva, who towered above three defenders and nodded home to make it 2-2. What a team, ac milan. Yes because only a special team could snatch a point at the end of a game like that.

 

[Dias]

Watching the replay now..

Pato's pace was electric, and his finish was World Class.

FML

 

[Shiby]

Draw :/ I lost 10 euros that I betted cuz we didn´t won.

But I will take a win at home

 

[Fiero]

91'27'' - the time (in minutes & seconds) between AC Milan's two goals tonight. Stretch.

Dude you have just won the internet with that avatar.

 

[Jasper]

FC Barcelona – AC Milan 2-2 player ratings

By Jasper | Posted on | September 14, 2011 | No Comments

Better late than never – here are my ratings.

Abbiati 6. – saved the ones he should’ve saved and conceded 2 where he had little to do. He was on heels for 90 minutes and was always ready to win our team some seconds. Confidence boosting performance.

Abate 6.5 – at times he looked like the only one who can run with Barca players and dispossess them rather than wait. Can forgive him the first goal.

Thiago Silva 6.5 – some shaky moments but a game-tying goal. Will forgive him the first goal.

Nesta 7.5 MOTM – Minister of Defence back at his position. What’s his tackling level on those games the youth loves so much? I nominate 1 000 000 000.

Zambrotta 6 – the heat map showed Barca put most pressure on him. Coped ok with it though not too good.

Nocerino 5.5 – won a crucial corner Gattuso style and covered the most ground by our players. But did he caught my eye overall? No.

Van Bommel 6 – stupid card but smart pressure all the time. He was leading our midfield in the defensive phase.

Seedorf 6.5 – only one who could hold the ball for a second and let his teammates breath. And a nice assist from the corner.

Ambrosini 5 – off-form or finished? Played through slight injury? Silly fouls and bad touches. Nothing positive.

Cassano 4.5 – dreadful game. Maybe not suited for such a match but definetely fatigued of all the games he has had over the week.

Pato 6.5 – great to see him scoring. Great to see him scoring in Europe. Could he have done better at some chances? Yes, but with only few touches on the ball we can’t expect all of them to be perfect. Could anyone do better than his opener? No, that is the goal of the season.

Milan 6.5 – the attack was lacking but the defense of the whole team was to be proud of.

Allegri 6.5 – fixed the problems from Lazio game and made the most with depleted selection.

Prince; Aquilani; Emanuelson; n/a

http://www.theacmilanblog.com/fc-barcelona-ac-milan-2-2-player-ratings

Tweet, share, comment, criticise.

 

[MilanMB]

Dude you have just won the internet with that avatar.

Thanks. It wasn't easy to replace my T.silva avatar, but Allegri does the work

 

[GAMilan]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xl2qsj_bar-2-2-mil_sport

These highlights illustrate a couple things:

1. Barca's attack is light years better then everyone.

2. Their defense is mediocre at best. If they didn't have the ability to hold possession for most of the game against every team they play, the would be very vulnerable.

 

[GAMilan]

Basically we need Pirlo! Why the heck didnt we keep him.

Because he is old, slow, gets injured, and isn't nearly as good as he used to be.

 

[Hitman]

Milan were without our three starting forwards - Ibra, Robinho and Prince. Milan were without match fitness in their legs with only 1 match played, and 2 of our players who played yesterday have only had 4 training sessions with the team. Their team has like unlimited funds to buy whomever, and they had a ridiculous amount of talent on the bench too, and we went to their home ground - one of the best teams in history - and we snatched a point at the beginning and end of the game due to them losing concentration just for a second. I will take it and I love it.

However, for us to improve - we must now look at our weaknesses to improve them.

I don't understand what was so great about Allegri in this game? I mean I am not criticizing him but it was obvious Allegri said that we should hit them on the counter (and does it really take a genius to figure that out?).

Abbiati, Nesta, Silva, Abate were all good... Nesta was excellent actually. Despite being so out of form, slow, 36, he still managed to stop one of the best players in history in a game that we were supposed to get thrashed in. Master display from Sandro - I don't expect him to play that good all season though - and normally so. Yes Abate was at fault (not 100%, but part of it) for the goal, but he had a very good game defensively...however offensively he offered nothing.... but I am very impressed with his defensive work in the last year.

Zambrotta used his experience as much as he can but oh boy was he absolutely horrendous. Absolutely terrible performance and could have cost us the game 2 or 3 times with silly mistakes.

Ambrosini was extremely bad also, Van Bommel played his usual role, not his best but he was good... Nocerino was really horrible, even though he was running everywhere, he was one of the reasons we were unable to string 4 passes together - his passes were terrible and his ball control was even worse. It was his first CL game and it was in the Nou Camp, it will only get better for him. Seedorf was playing a fantastic game at left midfield until he moved to trequartista. The Seedorf we have all loved to hate over the last year was the Seedorf who played as trequarista. Absolutely lost on the field, doesn't know how to move, slow, and uselesss - that was the Seedorf we saw after Prince left the field.

Cassano - proved once more that he cannot be depended on on games like this. Today really was the day for him to show he was a world-class player but he was unable to control the ball, unable to dribble, and kept giving unnecessary fouls and one of which was Villa's second goal.

Pato oh Pato where do I start..... INCREDIBLE SOLO EFFORT, INCREDIBLE GOAL - WELL DONE KID - but then what? He wasted two opportunities in which he could have gone one on one with, and he wasted pretty much EVERY SINGLE ball that came to him. He tries to dribble past 10 players and looses the ball everytime, he can't control the ball when the ball comes to him, he doesn't know where to run. Again, great goal Pato, but absolutely pathetic performance again. He definitely is capable of being our star, but he is faaaaaar faaaaar away from being that any time soon...when a player of his quality cannot control a pass coming to him - it definitely is a psychological issue.

Pato, Cassano and Nocerino were one of the main reasons we were not able to string 4 passes in a row for over 70 minutes. We were absolutely dominated and we are the champions of Italy and we are apparently trying to challenge for the CL.


In conclusion, Good result, bad performance. Alot of work still needs to be done if we want to be a top team.

 

[dev1L]

 

[ladro]

Well done milan.

The complete lack of offensive tactics/maybe slight fear and sloppy passing was pitfull but than again were still clearly behind in the fitness preparations and obviously the lack of ibrahimovic as the target man, engulfing the long balls and alloving the team to move forward (assuming his capable at least that in CL) had its toll.

Nesta MOTM, the tackle on messi was brilliant. Once he retires i predict a dip in milan defensive quality even if @ the age of 34 he tends to be sloppy @ times. Yesterday thoe flawless throughout the match.
ambrosini............

Seedorf part from a few brilliant touches here and there was garbage and mostly the reason why our attack didnt get any service. Way to slow/hesitated far to much for a pressing team like farsa.

Anyway is it just me or did the 1000 milan fans that were there @ many points of the match were lauder then the almost 100.000 strong catalans?

imagine pirlo controlling the ball in the midfield, holding it up, make busquets and seydou keita dizzy and all of a sudden give away a brilliant pass to pato.. boy how i miss that!

Imagining is one thing, reality is another. With his lousy physical form and general slowness hed be 100% useless like he was against real last year @ the san siro.

 

[ahmadkanafani]

I think Seedorf started well, but doesn't have the fitness for a 90 minute game, and a huge mistake for Allegri putting him as AM, and Ambro the flop of them match in seedorf's position that surely killed our attack. Seedorf is great in LCM, he has great qualities in ball posession.

 

[Fiero]

Ratings: Nesta - 10

Other 21 players: Unimportant.

 

[BreadPitt]

Fucking joke, these pricks are idiots, when we play a defensive stance they get angry and say we don't play football...I mean wtf fucking blatant dive

Just because they didn't win they say we can't play football?

It's called tactics ffs had we had run about they would have opened us up wit their passingg.

 

[anth183]

Just watching the replay now been 20mins Pato Seedorfs dribbling

But best moment of my day was when I saw my mate who supports Barca just before my test. He didn't say much but all I had to do was take off my top and point to my back. Was wearing my "Silva 33" Jersey

 

[ahmadkanafani]

Just watching the replay now been 20mins Pato Seedorfs dribbling

But best moment of my day was when I saw my mate who supports Barca just before my test. He didn't say much but all I had to do was take off my top and point to my back. Was wearing my "Silva 33" Jersey

 

[nuttela]

Just watching the replay now been 20mins Pato Seedorfs dribbling

But best moment of my day was when I saw my mate who supports Barca just before my test. He didn't say much but all I had to do was take off my top and point to my back. Was wearing my "Silva 33" Jersey

LMAO

Nice Stuff

 

[nuttela]

Found Busquets

 

[acm55]

found busquets

:d

 

[acerвιc wιт]

wasn't that nesta who cleared one of the low crossed balls towards the area? it was just cleared with just tip of the foot... so close... otherwise, that barca player was gonna get a clear shot..
such great timing. Nesta
They dont make defenders like those anymore... what are we gonna do after him ...

Oh.. and .. when nesta start to make a run through the middle from defense, it always looks promising and dangerous..
I remember that one against 3-0 manu
He made that last minute run just before we scored.
He kept the possession and when he make that run, the other team is just confused and dont know whether to run towards him to tackle or wait back... LOL

Nesta is one of the last pure artistic central defenders left in the game today. His anticipation, positioning and impeccable ability to read the game is second to none. One of the greatest, if not the greatest, defender of his generation. As we speak of his imminent retirement, along comes a certain Thiago Silva who is a colossus in the back line; not quite at Nesta's level yet but I have no doubt he will handle the baton, which Nesta will bestow him, with aplomb.

 

[ahmadkanafani]

Nesta is one of the last pure artistic central defenders left in the game today. His anticipation, positioning and impeccable ability to read the game is second to none. One of the greatest, if not the greatest, defender of his generation. As we speak of his imminent retirement, along comes a certain Thiago Silva who is a colossus in the back line; not quite at Nesta's level yet but I have no doubt he will handle the baton, which Nesta will bestow him, with aplomb.

Surely Nesta will be missed alot when he retires but Silva is a great heir! I also wish Milan buys another young italian defender to form a long partnership with Silva. Milan has always had a legacy in italy national team, I hope this characteristic come back soon

 

[ladro]

I think Seedorf started well, but doesn't have the fitness for a 90 minute game, and a huge mistake for Allegri putting him as AM, and Ambro the flop of them match in seedorf's position that surely killed our attack. Seedorf is great in LCM, he has great qualities in ball posession.

I dont think the fault was completely the lack of fitness. Dorf made a couple of good touches in the start but after that at least one barca player was always glued to his back. He was constantly getting cough with his back turned against our goal and was never reactive enough to turn around quickly enough.

I applaud his defensive effort thoe.

 

[anth183]

Ambro looks rusty I think our oldies take a lot longer to get match fit than the rest expected tho but maybe they should get back to preseason training earlier or not start in our first few matches or something

 

[benjamin]

Oh please. Bring Chiellini to Milan. Another 8-10 years of imperious defense.

 

[ahmadkanafani]

Ambro looks rusty I think our oldies take a lot longer to get match fit than the rest expected tho but maybe they should get back to preseason training earlier or not start in our first few matches or something

Hopefully this season will be the last for Ambro

 

[ahmadkanafani]

Oh please. Bring Chiellini to Milan. Another 8-10 years of imperious defense.

I hope it could happen but I hight dought it, Chellini in Juve is like Maldini in Milan. He is Juve's flag