Europe’s conquerors FC Barcelona host Italian champions AC Milan at the Camp Nou on Tuesday in a Champions League group stage clash. Both teams have had an illustrious history to boast of, at the premier level continental competition and have been two of the most successful teams in terms of European success in the last ten years. These teams do not share any animosity between them and the relations between the clubs are perhaps farthest from being bitter rivals. However, on the pitch they are fierce competitors.
The two teams have not failed to entertain the fans from both circles whenever they have locked horns in high-profile European contests, with both teams having had their share of triumphant moments. As the two teams set to cross swords to grace the opening day for Champions League’s 2011-12 edition, TheHardTackle’s resident authors Parth Pandya (PP hereafter) and Manuel Traquete MT hereafter) – who happen to be hardcore Milan and Barcelona fans respectively – engage in an enthralling verbal duel with some instigating questions, with the potential of making the other one uncomfortable. Manuel shoots his questions first.
MT: After a seven-year period, where you had to witness your main rivals, Inter Milan, dominate Italian football, AC Milan finally managed to win the Serie A again last season. Milan also have a great history in the European Cup/Champions League, being the second most successful club in the competition’s history with seven titles, but the last few years (after 2007) have been quite poor for Milan in Europe. After conquering Italy, are AC Milan ready to become a major force in Europe again this season?
PP: Let’s face it. Scudetto is back to the red half of the city but at least the sane ones do not hesitate in not overestimating the prowess that this squad boasts of. Yes, we do have a great history in the European competitions and are the most successful club in the world in International competitions. Even during the recently concluded decade, we claimed the Champions League title twice but that’s about it. For three years, we remained devoid of legs that could reintroduce any vigor in our game but things are at least shaping back for the better. We are definitely hopeful of the team reclaiming the lost stature sooner than we anticipate but at the same time, I would not get carried away and fancy a European title straight away. But for a miracle, I do not think we have it in us, just yet, to beat teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid or Chelsea.
MT: The last time Barcelona and Milan faced in the Champions League was in the 2006 semifinals, with Barcelona edging past Milan for a place in the final. In the second leg at Camp Nou, Shevchenko had a goal wrongly disallowed and that goal could have taken the tie into extra time. Do you (and Milan fans in general) felt/feel robbed of a place in the final (or at least a fighting chance in extra time) that year?
PP: I’d lie if I say that we are already over it. The moment defined a third straight heartbreaking end to our Champions League campaign after those best-not-talked-about nights in Istanbul and Riazor. Though, being a Ronaldinho fan myself, I hold that Barcelona side in the highest regard and totally concede that they were the worthy champions. I am of an opinion that referral controversies are pretty much the part and parcel of the game and of course if arouses clear agitations when the decisions go against your side but beyond a point, cribbing doesn’t serve any real purpose. Perhaps, the fact that Jose Mourinho coached only the blue half of Milan and not THE Red one, allows us to feel this way.
MT: In 1994, Milan annihilated Barcelona in the Champions League final 4-0. That was pretty much the last hurrah of a fabulous AC Milan side that dominated the late 80s/early 90s and is considered as one of the greatest club sides of all-time. This current Barcelona crop is held in the same regard by many, widely considered the best of this generation and one of the best of all-time. According to you, which of these two all-time great sides is better? Have Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona surpassed Arrigo Sacchi’s AC Milan?
PP: I do not exactly endorse the idea of drawing parallels among two great teams from different eras but rather prefer to remain in sheer awe of the fantabulous brand of football these teams exhibit. Sacchi’s Milan is undoubtedly one of the greatest things to have happened to the game by far but it would be difficult to predict how adaptive they would have been in the modern day game with revised and liberalized rules. The current crop of Barcelona players is an assemblage that is definitely going to be noted down in the history as one of the best ever to have gathered and should they continue to persevere and deliver in the same manner for some more years, they might actually start to be deemed to have battered Sacchi’s Milan, statistically at least, that is. Players like van Basten, Gullit and Rijkaard eventually failed to maintain those standards post 1989, let’s see if Xavi, Iniesta and Messi can.
MT: Milan were drawn with Barcelona, Bate Borisov and Viktoria Plzeň. Are you pleased with this draw?
PP: Well, the draw virtually assures us a qualification to the second round of the competition, which is frankly a relief, considering the quality sides the lower pots boasted of during the draws – ask Bayern fans. However, at the same time, the saddening fact resurfaces that there is a greater chance of failing to win the group, which would again jeopardize our chance to advance past the first knock-out round with greater probabilities of being drawn against teams potentially stronger than ours. However, there is no point pondering much over the groups now. Like it or not, this is it.
MT: Over the past three years, many teams and managers have tried to find a formula to stop this Barcelona side, but they’ve all failed. How do you think Max Allegri will set his team up to try and top Barcelona?
PP: Not ‘All’. There exists a man called Jose Mourinho. Now, I am not a lunatic to expect Allegri to match Mourinho’s managerial genius but let’s look at it this way – Allegri doesn’t exactly need to ‘beat’ this Barcelona team. The only reason the game is garnering the hype is the stature that the brands ‘Milan’ and ‘Barca’ behold in Europe and nothing else. This is not a game that would determine either team’s path during the further campaign. So, I would not mind Allegri trying his luck at Camp Nou since there’s not much to lose at this stage in season, since Milan are already rated outright underdogs. Though Allegri is not the biggest tactical gambler, I’d be pleased to see if he has some surprises in store. Coming out unscathed from the Camp Nou, should definitely avoid any criticism coming his way.
And you know, I feel it’s high time we changed the roles. You better assume the hot seat and let me do the honors.
MT: I am all yours. Shoot!
PP: Cesc & Sanchez, the two new signings at Barcelona apparently seem to have compelled the manager to change the formation slightly. Though the team looks pretty strong in this new shape too, does this signal an end of the all conquering Barcelona XI of last season? Or do we see them back as soon as everyone regains full fitness?
MT: No, the 4-3-3 will remain the most used formation. The 3-4-3 was mostly a product of a defensive crisis, with Puyol, Piqué, Alves and Adriano all sidelined. While the 3-4-3 proved to be a valid alternative, the 4-3-3 will remain the primary formation and the one that should be used against Milan on Tuesday.
PP: Barcelona fans quite seemingly do not like Ibrahimovic but according to the statistics, the Big Swede did not actually do that badly in Spain, did he? 22 goals and 9 assists in all competitions starting 42 games, isn’t too bad after all. Compare this to David Villa’s first season stats of 23 goals and 9 assists in 50 games. Where exactly did he improvise the squad and what dimensions did he add that Zlatan couldn’t?
MT: Ah, you had to bring Zlatan into this conversation, ain’t it? All right, for starters, statistics hide more than they reveal. David Villa has been doing considerably better than Zlatan. The lanky Swede could never adapt to Barcelona’s quick and fluid passing style and he ended up becoming a liability. In the first leg of the Champions tie against Inter Milan, Ibra covered less ground than Victor Valdés! This stat is pretty self-explanatory. David Villa brought the work rate and commitment that Ibra could never bring; he was an upgrade on the Swede. The best proof of that is how much the team improvised in 2010-2011 with Villa on Ibra’s place.
PP: Fair enough. Coming to the game now, Milan boast of arguably world’s greatest centre back in Thiago Silva, who forms a resolute partnership with one of game’s all time greats in Alessandro Nesta, who has with age slowed down on pace but hasn’t diminished on class even one bit. How do you think Messi & Co. will aim to go past this wall considering the fact that the right flank will be manned by Abate who virtually ate up Cristiano Ronaldo the last time Real Madrid travelled to San Siro?
MT: Stopping Ronaldo isn’t that hard; while he is a relentless scoring machine, his dribbling has become distinctly average over the past few years. Supremely gifted dribblers like Messi and Iniesta will present a whole different challenge to Milan’s defence.
Lazio created chances at will on Friday, they didn’t seem too bothered by Thiago Silva and Nesta, so why should Barcelona be? The attacking plan will be the same as always: dominating possession and creating gaps in the defence, with Messi taking defenders one-on-one.
PP: Though most probably, Milan will be the happier side to take a point out off the game, do you think Barca’s three-man defence will be enough to subjugate the triumvirate of Ibrahimovic, Pato and Boateng? On a slightly unrelated note, Gattuso’s absence must have brought a smile or two on Busquets’ face already. He must not be worrying now to be at the receiving end of Rino-ism and can conduct ‘his’ usual stuff quite normally.
MT: I don’t think we’ll have a three-man defence; Barcelona will play in their usual 4-3-3. Besides, Puyol has returned from injury and he’ll probably play on Tuesday, which makes Barcelona’s defence considerably more solid. On paper, Barca’s defence shouldn’t have much trouble containing Milan’s attack. Teams don’t usually see much of the ball at Camp Nou, Milan’s attack will have very few chances to shine.
As for Busquets, I don’t think he really cares whether Gattuso will play or not. In fact, it’d be better if he played. Busquets is a specialist at getting opponents sent off and Rino’s temperament would make him a very easy target.
PP: The last time an Italian team travelled to Camp Nou was back in 2010 when Inter played ‘that’ semi-final and the referral controversies on the day are secret to none. Barcelona have been beneficiaries one too many times for anybody’s liking in 50-50 situations. Do you think the officials will influence the course of the game once again? What do you predict the outcome to be in terms of scoreline by the way?
MT: If José Mourinho is to be believed, UNICEF and UEFA will be conspiring again this season to make FC Barcelona champions of Europe. However, even if the conspiracy were real, I don’t think it’d come into play in this match, it’d draw too many suspicions. It’s better to save it for when Barca face elimination, this is just the first game of the group stages.
I predict a 2-0 win for Barcelona. Barca have always started the Champions League very strong under Pep Guardiola (3-1 against Sporting 2008, 2-0 against Shakhtar in 2009 and 5-1 against Panathinaikos in 2010) and I believe that trend will continue, with Messi and Villa scoring.
I believe that should suffice all your concerns surrounding this clash. Let’s better stop contemplating more about it and await Tuesday. I am more than sure; the match will be no short of entertainment front. By the way, I’d once again say, Gattuso will be missed.