After absorbing quarter final between AC Milan and Barcelona ended with the Blaugrana progressing, and the fall out has been nothing short of nuclear. Obviously, the better side went through, but in a manner which has brought out the conspiracy theorists in full force.
It’s difficult not to feel the referee ruined the match, and despite Barcelona’s dominance it would have been interesting if that incredibly soft penalty had not been given and besides we should remember the better sides do not always win in football.
Despite all this, let’s look at five things we’ve learnt from the four wonderful games Milan and Barcelona have served us this season…
Milan are some way off Barcelona, but not as widely as people would have you believe
The party line is that Barcelona are the best team in the world, and that apart from Real Madrid, no other side is currently anywhere near them in terms of quality and having the ability to take them on toe-to-toe. In four games spread over six months, Milan lost by three spot-kicks – if you take a combined aggregate score.
Whilst it seems Barcelona outclassed the Rossoneri in all four encounters by monopolizing possession and creating chances, Milan admirably held their lines and looked likely to hurt Barcelona whenever they broke forward. Despite Barcelona winning the group stage ties and moving through to the semi-finals they didn’t exactly brush Milan aside as most people predicted. A couple of world class signings and a slice of good fortune is all the Rossoneri require to give Barcelona a much tougher ride next time around.
Lionel Messi still cannot score against Italian opposition from open play
Messi is the best player in the world by some distance, something not many people would dispute. In eight games against four different Italian clubs over the past seven years, all the diminutive Argentine wizard has to show for it is three spot-kicks converted against Milan in this season’s quartet of games. What these games have further underlined is that against more tactically disciplined opposition the mazy runs and lighting feet of Messi are far less productive than they normally are.
Whilst the Rossoneri could not prevent Messi leading Barcelona to victory, they showed how organization, discipline and tactical awareness could be utilized in silencing the Argentine prodigy. Messi might keep banging in hatfuls of goals against La Liga and other European sides, but sooner or later he has to silence the critics from the land of catanecio by scoring from open play against one of them
At 36, Alessandro Nesta is still one of the best in the world
Alessandro Nesta is still one of the best defenders in the world, one of the best of his era and definitely up there with the best defenders of all time. He effectively marshaled Lionel Messi in all four games; ensuring he did not open his Italian account. I’m sure everyone remembers that absolutely breathtaking tackle from the group stage which left Messi pounding the Camp Nou turf in frustration; straight from the Franco Baresi rulebook.
There were times Messi run him rugged, such as the quarter final 1st leg where he had to concede a yellow card; smiling classily as the referee brandished it; but overall he acquitted himself admirably against a player ten years his junior, five times faster, and one of the best of all time. Thiago Silva’s absence thrust more responsibility on the veteran which he gladly shouldered; and if this really is his swansong the Roman can bow out with little regrets.
The San Siro pitch did not have as much influence as thought
After a closely contested quarter final first-leg tie which ended goalless, Barcelona were up in arms against the quality of the San Siro turf claiming it had impacted negatively on their fluid passing game and not allowed them to play as they normally do. A look at the statistics from both legs shows that the two games were not really different in how they panned out. Barcelona had roughly 62% possession in both ties, and managed 15 shots in Italy to 18 in Spain – a hardly significant difference.
Their petulant complaint to UEFA was juvenile considering they had won there earlier in the season and the problems with the pitch are well documented. The pitch did not have as much an impact as they would have everyone believe, with the lush Camp Nou turf not producing a game any different from the first leg on the ‘potato pitch’.
Italian Clubs are hardly the scum of the Earth
There are always negative stories floating around about Italian clubs. They are corrupt, old, play negative football, and are cheats, liars, and divers. Whilst some of the concerns are true and legitimate, it’s the latter claim I have a problem with. In the second leg quarter final tie, only one team turned out to be liars, divers, and cheats, and they weren’t Italian. Any Olympic swimming team could use the diving skills of Sergio Busquets, while colleagues Dani Alves and Alexis Sanchez are not that far behind.
Their tactic of immediately surrounding the referee and demanding a card often pays dividends and is one of football’s more polarizing sights. Barcelona might have the world’s best team, the world’s best players, and play the world’s best football, but they also have the world’s best diver. They might be UEFA’s poster boys, and every neutral’s favourite side, but the conduct of their players leaves much to be desired, particularly for such a wonderfully talented team.
For all the latest Serie A news don’t forget to check out the news section of Forza Italian Football.
Join Forza Italian Football on Twitter and Facebook.
This is a poor attempt to gloss over an outclassed and outplayed Milan side that went through the entire campaign without an away victory. Since you seem to have beenm learning so much over the two ties, what did you learn from the penalties denied to Barca in the first leg? What did you learn about the lunges at Messi that earned your defenders cards? Is that what you call stopping Messi? With that kind of reckless play, Milan defenders were lucky to remain on the pitch. Honestly, the only think you learnt is how to cry and find blame for your poor team’s showing? Boasting of beind dominated 62% posession? You must be a teenager!
I also learned that for milan defending is more appreciated than winning against Barca. Also I learned that Robinho and Ibra can not score against Barca in open play of quarter final. Italians fear messi such that they conguratulate themselves if only its someone else scoring for Barca but not Messi.