There is no one in football who doesn't like their playing style, it's like Showtime on the football field. But I dislike Barca because they dive and generally try to bamboozle referees when they are losing. However, they are a top class organization from the youth team all the way up to the senior team (national teams should benchmark their model).
AC Milan vs. Barcelona
So when they played in Milan and got beat 2-0 when Milan's counter attack caught them twice in quick succession, Barcelona was shocked. Then they lost their next two big games against Real Madrid in the league and Copa del Rey respectively.
So it setup the second leg drama. Barcelona had a chance to overturn a 2-0 deficit for the first time in Champs Lge history. Their manager Tito Villanova, had the game dedicated to him while he continues to battle cancer in the US.
AC Milan didn't have control of the ball and their passing accuracy was only slightly better when they played in Milan, so why would anyone discount Barcelona playing at the Camp Nou? They don't lose there very often. In fact they are 15-0-4 in their last 19 Champs Lge games. The only hope Milan had was to score an away goal on a counter attack (which Niang should have put away). Why? Barcelona had 72% possession in Milan and 67% possession at home combined with high pressing and quick movement/passing. AC Milan could not cope with the 3-4-3 formation (switched from a 4-3-3) with Alves finding acres of space on the right. Messi scored the first 2 goals and Iniesta hit the post with a fierce volley in the first half.
In the second half, it was more of the same, with Villa scoring the 3rd goal. Milan responded by taking off Ambrosini and Al Sharawy for Muntari and Robinho. Anyone claiming that at 3-0 Milan had an edge is exaggerating their influence, Barca was still dominant. In fact, in Champs Lge games Barca has completed 3,200 more passes than Milan! AC Milan just threw caution to the wind and got burned therefore no one should be fooled by a purple patch for 5 minutes in the second half. Jordi Alba caught Milan out on a counter attack and sealed the game 4-0 (the aggregate score: 4-2).
Schalke vs. Galatassary
Galatassary and Schalke drew 1-1 in the first leg, setting up a thrilling second leg encounter. It did not disappoint. Galatassary scored 2 goals away after being down 1-0, before Schalke scored a second goal in the 66th minute. At 2-2 because of the away goals rule, Schalke were still behind in this matchup and had to push forward. Julian Draxler, the 19 year old prodigy for Schalke, had all of his skills on display. Pace, power, quick feet, powerful shot and the ability to get past his man. Although he created many opportunities it was Galatassary who finished the game in stoppage time with a breakaway goal to win 3-2 and progress. Drogba should be commended for his holdup play but Gala proved to be a very tough team and will pose problems for anyone in the quarter final round. Their manager took Turkey to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2002, so the likelihood is that he will get his tactics and personnel correct in the next round. In addition, we have not even seen the best of Drogba or Sneidjer yet.
AC Milan vs. Barcelona
So when they played in Milan and got beat 2-0 when Milan's counter attack caught them twice in quick succession, Barcelona was shocked. Then they lost their next two big games against Real Madrid in the league and Copa del Rey respectively.
So it setup the second leg drama. Barcelona had a chance to overturn a 2-0 deficit for the first time in Champs Lge history. Their manager Tito Villanova, had the game dedicated to him while he continues to battle cancer in the US.
AC Milan didn't have control of the ball and their passing accuracy was only slightly better when they played in Milan, so why would anyone discount Barcelona playing at the Camp Nou? They don't lose there very often. In fact they are 15-0-4 in their last 19 Champs Lge games. The only hope Milan had was to score an away goal on a counter attack (which Niang should have put away). Why? Barcelona had 72% possession in Milan and 67% possession at home combined with high pressing and quick movement/passing. AC Milan could not cope with the 3-4-3 formation (switched from a 4-3-3) with Alves finding acres of space on the right. Messi scored the first 2 goals and Iniesta hit the post with a fierce volley in the first half.
In the second half, it was more of the same, with Villa scoring the 3rd goal. Milan responded by taking off Ambrosini and Al Sharawy for Muntari and Robinho. Anyone claiming that at 3-0 Milan had an edge is exaggerating their influence, Barca was still dominant. In fact, in Champs Lge games Barca has completed 3,200 more passes than Milan! AC Milan just threw caution to the wind and got burned therefore no one should be fooled by a purple patch for 5 minutes in the second half. Jordi Alba caught Milan out on a counter attack and sealed the game 4-0 (the aggregate score: 4-2).
Schalke vs. Galatassary
Galatassary and Schalke drew 1-1 in the first leg, setting up a thrilling second leg encounter. It did not disappoint. Galatassary scored 2 goals away after being down 1-0, before Schalke scored a second goal in the 66th minute. At 2-2 because of the away goals rule, Schalke were still behind in this matchup and had to push forward. Julian Draxler, the 19 year old prodigy for Schalke, had all of his skills on display. Pace, power, quick feet, powerful shot and the ability to get past his man. Although he created many opportunities it was Galatassary who finished the game in stoppage time with a breakaway goal to win 3-2 and progress. Drogba should be commended for his holdup play but Gala proved to be a very tough team and will pose problems for anyone in the quarter final round. Their manager took Turkey to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2002, so the likelihood is that he will get his tactics and personnel correct in the next round. In addition, we have not even seen the best of Drogba or Sneidjer yet.
No comments:
Post a Comment