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

[Campione]

I would say the most surprising thing is that Barcelona has such poor defence. Milan was actually really close to do 2-0 but our midfielders wasnt 100 percent in passing so Pato didnt get much after his goal from his great runs through their defence.

The Barcelona defenders are slow which is really bad for them cause the defence have always much space in an offence team like Barcelona. Also they are really poor in the air which also is not good for them cause it is great to score on set pieces on a team like Barcelona. I mean after 70 minutes Pato easily wins in the air after a copylike corner which we score on 20 minutes later.

It is really great that we took advantage of these two weeknesses and scored one goal for each of Barcas weaknessess.

 

[gucciluc]

pathetic diving midgets! exept xavi and messi. the rest all dives, they should be ashamed of theirselves. if busquets didnt dive, they wouldnt have been awarded a freekick and villa wouldnt have scored pff

 

[Ramzee]

Great performance by Barca, but Milan defence dealt with that And Nesta - omfg such a MOM performance!

 

[LoLInter]

at the present theres no way to dominate barcelona in possesion so it's only natural you play cattenacio to counter their style of play. idc what anyone says but this result for me proves milan can trash bayern, man utd etc easily. i still think the top 4 for CL this year are

milan
madrid
man city
barca

everyone else is too overhyped/shit atm lol

I'm actually way more scared of United and City than Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Not because they're necessarily the better team, simply because I don't think our style of playing football will be too effective against them.
Don't know why, I just have that feeling. I'd rather face the Spanish giants than any one of those two.

 

[Rex]

Even though catenaccio deployed to cover Barca's footballing was unsightly eye, the result stealing the point away should have been grateful in their home soil.

My credit. Thanks for never give in, lads.

 

[Boban1982]

A good display by us against the best team in the world.

Abate for me was at fault for the first goal but the 2nd goal was unstoppable. Although Cassano gave away a stupid free kick.

We could and should have scored at least another goal early on when Pato would have been clean through had he not mis-controlled the ball.

Boateng's injury hurt us and bringing on Ambrosini did nothing for us in attack.

I was worried at 2-1 but he held it together well. We fought until the end and Nocerino who played well for me did great to win the corner. Fantastic header from Silva.

Apart from Cassano who was dire and Ambrosini who was rubbish as well the entire team did fantastic.

Just think had this been the knock out stage we would have two away goals against the best team in the world.

Forza Milan!!

 

[ernesto]

I'm actually way more scared of United and City than Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Not because they're necessarily the better team, simply because I don't think our style of playing football will be too effective against them.
Don't know why, I just have that feeling. I'd rather face the Spanish giants than any one of those two.

how so? Man U is the only top team who spread their legs wide open everytime they play against us... apart from 4-0 game,,

most of the time, struggling us always school in form manu

 

[Dinar]

ESPNsoccernet Press Pass: 13 September 2011
Publish Date: Today, 12:40 AM ET Duration: 23:37

Robbie Mustoe, Tommy Smyth and Frank Leboeuf discuss Tuesday's Champions League action. Barcelona and AC Milan drew, as did Dortmund and Arsenal, while Chelsea beat Bayer Leverkusen.

Well they spend first 8-9 mins on Barca-Milan match so u can close it if u want.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6968161

 

[akewander]

If anyone wants to watch the match online instead of downloading
Commentary in English
http://www.1channel.ch/tv-2727545-Champions-League/season-1-episode-1

 

[AriCel66]

at the present theres no way to dominate barcelona in possesion so it's only natural you play cattenacio to counter their style of play. idc what anyone says but this result for me proves milan can trash bayern, man utd etc easily. i still think the top 4 for CL this year are

milan
madrid
man city
barca

everyone else is too overhyped/shit atm lol

Mark my words , id play any of them in the knoc outs . but if we get MCity we are fuked. And believe me when i found out we played barca i had the utmost confidence we can shit on them midget faces... But MCity , is way to underrated ... will watch their game tonite and ... i hope to god im not right and they just flop hard.

 

[Dinar]

Forrest Gump's Milan
Maybe Max Allegri was inspired by Hollywood when taking on Barcelona, says Susy Campanale

It is well known that Coaches often show clips of Hollywood movies to their squad before a big game to motivate, inspire and create unity. I get the feeling Massimiliano Allegri was watching Forrest Gump before stepping out at the Camp Nou, because Milan had only one basic tactic: win back possession and then RUN, PATO! RUN LIKE THE WIND!

Barcelona didn't know what had hit them in the opening 24 seconds, as the Brazilian netted the fifth fastest goal in Champions League history. Admittedly, asking Pato to just run at the defence was a particularly astute approach when the centre-backs were Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets. It almost proved successful a few more times too, but as the game wore on past the 15-minute mark, the ball became a rare sight for the Rossoneri.

It is somewhat embarrassing for Milan to leave Cataluña with only 30 per cent of the possession. On paper they were vastly out-played and did absolutely nothing to earn the point save for the opening and closing 24 seconds. However, Allegri was really rather clever in this instance.

The Coach turned Milan into everything that has frustrated his own team in recent years. How many times have we seen the Rossoneri struggle against sides who sit deep, encourage a slow tempo, close down the spaces to render possession sterile and then break with merciless counter-attacks? They even finished the match with a late equaliser from a corner kick, that bête noir of the San Siro giants. It was like looking into a fairground mirror that highlights all your worst features.

So Allegri adopted the complete opposite of what Milan normally do, but can he really be blamed for that? With one Serie A game under their belts, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho injured, was there any point in trying to out-play Barcelona on their own turf? This is the group stage and a draw away to inarguably the best side in the world right now is not to be sniffed at.

Possession isn't everything, because for all their 70 per cent of the ball, Barça had very few genuine scoring opportunities. Milan's game was like a box of chocolates, starting with a delicious morsel, sitting there for 90 minutes denying themselves the sweet sugary pleasure before rewarding their patience with a tasty final treat that lingers on the palate.

So scoff all you like, but Milan earned that point. They deserved it more than Forrest Gump did all those Oscars, anyway...

http://www.football-italia.net/blogs/sc199.html

 

[Shevagool]

Ratings from Corriere dello Sport:

Pato: 7
Thiago Silva: 7
Seedorf: 6.5
Nesta: 6.5
Nocerino: 6
Ambrosini: 6
Van Bommel: 5.5
Abbiati: 5.5
Abate: 5.5
Zambrotta: 5.5
Emanuelson: 5.5
Boateng: 5.5
Cassano: 5

Someone has Gazzetta ratings?

 

[kevin_dk]

Okay, motherfucking Pep Guardiola has said something very disrespectful. He blamed us for Iniesta's injury. Seriously these fucking assholes can never get enough.

 

[gucciluc]

Ratings from Corriere dello Sport:

Pato: 7
Thiago Silva: 7
Seedorf: 6.5
Nesta: 6.5
Nocerino: 6
Ambrosini: 6
Van Bommel: 5.5
Abbiati: 5.5
Abate: 5.5
Zambrotta: 5.5
Emanuelson: 5.5
Boateng: 5.5
Cassano: 5

Someone has Gazzetta ratings?

Nesta 6.5?

seriously, i will bomb their headquarter someday! wtf?

 

[Polotelli]

Ratings from Corriere dello Sport:

Pato: 7
Thiago Silva: 7
Seedorf: 6.5
Nesta: 6.5
Nocerino: 6
Ambrosini: 6
Van Bommel: 5.5
Abbiati: 5.5
Abate: 5.5
Zambrotta: 5.5
Emanuelson: 5.5
Boateng: 5.5
Cassano: 5

Someone has Gazzetta ratings?

Corriere Dello Sport

 

[wjy520wjy]

Ratings from Corriere dello Sport:

Pato: 7
Thiago Silva: 7
Seedorf: 6.5
Nesta: 6.5
Nocerino: 6
Ambrosini: 6
Van Bommel: 5.5
Abbiati: 5.5
Abate: 5.5
Zambrotta: 5.5
Emanuelson: 5.5
Boateng: 5.5
Cassano: 5

Someone has Gazzetta ratings?

ambro 5
abate 6

 

[Campione]

Corriere Dello Sport

6 for Ambrosini is just as strange.

Gazzetta ratings?

 

[jammin]

Any of you guys know why MvB was booked? I remember it being after a Nesta tackle. That yellow card was probably why he was substituted.

Also, our ball control at times was simply disgusting. Maybe we were surprised by playing in a decent pitch for once.

Great result. AMAZING defending. Forza Milan!

Victor Valdes bowing down to us.

"And Milan have that champion mentality. You can never, ever write them off. Wherever they go, in whatever circumstance, they try to win. They are one of the great European sides and they already had our maximum respect."

 

[fredrik9]

Read a great thing about the game last night:

In a fight, he who throws the most punches doesn't win.
He who throws the last one does.

 

[Mercado]

Ratings from Corriere dello Sport:

Pato: 7
Thiago Silva: 7
Seedorf: 6.5
Nesta: 6.5
Nocerino: 6
Ambrosini: 6
Van Bommel: 5.5
Abbiati: 5.5
Abate: 5.5
Zambrotta: 5.5
Emanuelson: 5.5
Boateng: 5.5
Cassano: 5

Someone has Gazzetta ratings?

Abbiati 6;
Abate 6,5,
Thiago Silva 6,5,
Nesta 7,5,
Zambrotta 5,5;
Van Bommel 6,5 (Aquilani s.v.),
Nocerino 5,5,
Seedorf 5,5;
Boateng 6 (Ambrosini 6);
Pato 6,5,
Cassano 4,5 (Emanuelson 6).
All.: Allegri 6

 

[TS33]

If people think playing like this will win us something..well they are mistaking. Milan stole a point and good for them, but for 90% of this game I was embarrassed. The only thing good I guess is they defended very well...but if the game plan is to defend for 90 min and hope for a miracle then that is pathetic. I'm at a loss for words to explain how incapable Milan were of even mounting a counter attack or stringing 3 passes together. This result, however happy this makes people feel only masks how shit our attack is.

Our attack isn't shit - it is our midfield that is lacking and ultimately creates that disharmony between defence and offence. Last night's game further proves that we need passing midfielders in order to control what possession we get.

We defended like a traditional Italian side and took our chances when we got them - as others have pointed out - and it worked perfectly. We didn't play dirty, we played elegantly in defence. Nesta put on a fucking masterclass and Silva grew in confidence and stature. You can't ask for much more really, despite what some fans say (knowing that they're probably fourteen year olds that just expect to see a 6 goal game).

Okay, motherfucking Pep Guardiola has said something very disrespectful. He blamed us for Iniesta's injury. Seriously these fucking assholes can never get enough.

Quote? Source?

We know they have the potential to be sore losers but that's a bit far.

 

[jammin]

Barca players sucked today except for Messi. Also, FKs are such a pussy way to score. (esp. since we NEVER seem to score from them. )

Quote? Source?

We know they have the potential to be sore losers but that's a bit far.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/ch...ched-our-goal-two-and-a-half-times-barcelonas

As usual, goal.crap is exaggerating.

 

[Campione]

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

 

[jammin]

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

no words.

 

[gucciluc]

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!

 

[MilanMB]

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!

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

 

[Crashie]

Abate for me was at fault for the first goal but the 2nd goal was unstoppable. Although Cassano gave away a stupid free kick.

I believe it was Zambrotta, who standed still on that goal.

 

[ReBorned]

2 goals from corner kicks in 2 games :O. Things are changing in Milan.

I though the same. Casanno from corner, TS from corner and TS said after the game that they practice this for long time and he is glad that it went in!

 

[necromancer]

I dont usually do ratings, coz I believe its a team game, but this match had players who deserved certain ratings.

Abbiati - 7.5 - Excellent performance, hardly put a foot wrong. Is it his destiny to go through his career with such performances and yet never get mentioned as a world-class goalie?

Abate - 7.5 - Superb in defence, hardly ever went forward.. Which is the opposite of the Abate I knew 2 years back.

Nesta - 9 - Motherfucking God.

Silva - 7.5 - Was strangely the least involved of our 4 defenders, but that goal. O Monstro

Zambrotta - 7.5 - Another one who is considered finished. Age is a number, for a defender its always in the brain.

Ambrosini - 5.5 - Disappointing, as he has been in many matches last season too. If we had one more midfielder in top form in the middle, we could have controlled the match a bit more.

van Bommel - 6.5 - Good match, still not in the form he was in last season.

Seedorf - 6-6.5 - Difficult to rate. Got off to an excellent start, had a great first 30 minutes. But faded out completely after that. Whether he was conserving energy or not, I do not know. Thankfully, he had enough in his tank to take that last corner.

Nocerino - 6.5 - Had trouble getting used to the game we were playing initially. Got owned a couple of times as well. But good, good energy till the end, gradually was our best midfielder as the match progressed, simply because he had that energy. And we found its worth in the last minute when he forced that corner.

Cassano - 5.5 - The tactics were ill-suited to him. It should have always been a single-striker formation in Ibra's absence.

Pato - 7 - Excellent vision and execution in the beginning. This was the Pato I loved 2 years back. And how it would benefit us to get him back! Could have had one more goal in fact.


Boateng - 6 - Hardly did anything. His sub did even less.
Emanuelson - 6.5 - He should have started the match instead of Cassano. Against Barcelona, wingers are rather important. And he did pretty well keeping Alves occupied for whatever little moves we had.
Aquilani - 6 - Did nothing much. But did nothing wrong either.


Allegri - 7 - He has given us, or re-found in our team, certain characteristics which we had till 2007. Hunger, cleverness and most importantly ENERGY. Immense admiration for that. But not a perfect match since he (bowed to pressure, maybe?) chose the wrong starting lineup. Great job telling the team to get off to a quick start and to save energy for a quick ending.

 

[fredrik9]

If people think playing like this will win us something..well they are mistaking.

We could have put some more pressure, but this is more or less the only way to beat Barca. Like I said "In a fight, he who throws the most punches doesn't win, he who throws the last one does". A solid and tight defense and then use every single little opportunity to score. We had some luck yesterday, but you don't beat or draw Barca without it.