Wednesday, the 20th of February 2013 | BARCELONA (CEST), 20:45 | LOS ANGELES (PDT), 11:45 | MONTREAL( EDT), 14:45| LONDON (BST), 19:45| MELBOURNE (EST), 06:45 (NEXT DAY) Convert to your local time San Siro Milan San Siro Page Previous meetings • These two famous names have squared off 15 times, Barcelona recording six wins to Milan's four and scoring 22 goals to the Italian side's 19. Milan's record in seven home outings against Barcelona reads W2 D2 L3. • In last season's quarter-final, Milan and Barcelona played out a goalless first leg at San Siro on 28 March. The lineups were:Milan: Abbiati, Bonera, Mexès, Nesta (Mesbah 75), Antonini, Nocerino, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Boateng (Emanuelson 67), Robinho (El Shaarawy 52), Ibrahimović.Barcelona: Valdés, Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Puyol, Xavi, Busquets, Keita, Sánchez (Pedro 76), Messi, Iniesta (Tello 65). • Barcelona prevailed 3-1 in the 3 April return with Lionel Messi scoring two first-half penalties, either side of Antonio Nocerino's 32nd-minute equaliser. Andrés Iniesta cemented victory for Josep Guardiola's side with a third goal after 53 minutes. • The clubs also met in the 2011/12 group stage, Barcelona taking four points from their two meetings. Their matchday one fixture at Camp Nou on 13 September 2011 finished 2-2, Thiago Silva scoring Milan's 92nd-minute equaliser after Pedro Rodríguez and David Villa had overturned Pato's first-minute goal. • Barcelona then won 3-2 in Milan on 23 November to consign their hosts to second place in their group. Xavi Hernández hit a 63rd-minute winner after Zlatan Ibrahimović and Kevin-Prince Boateng had cancelled out Mark van Bommel's own goal and Messi's penalty respectively. • Frank Rijkaard's Barcelona were 1-0 aggregate winners against Carlo Ancelotti's Milan in the 2005/06 semi-finals en route to winning the second of their four European Cups. Ludovic Giuly's strike at San Siro proved decisive in a first leg featuring Massimo Ambrosini for Milan and Víctor Valdés, Carles Puyol and Iniesta for Barcelona. • Barcelona are unbeaten in seven matches against Milan, whose last success came in the group stage on 20 October 2004, Andriy Shevchenko getting the only goal. Substitute Ambrosini played for the Rossoneri with Valdés, Puyol, Xavi and substitute Iniesta lining up for the Spanish side. Ambrosini is also a survivor of Milan's only win at the Camp Nou, 2-0 on 26 September 2000. Match background • Milan's three Group G outings at San Siro yielded just two points and they scored just one goal, in the 1-1 draw against Barcelona's Liga rivals Málaga CF.• By contrast, Barcelona have won eight of their last 11 UEFA Champions League away fixtures and are targeting a sixth successive quarter-final appearance. In the group stage they recorded victories at SL Benfica and FC Spartak Moskva either side of a defeat at Celtic FC.• Milan's aggregate success against Arsenal FC in last season's round of 16 ended a run of three defeats at this stage – all by English opposition – and put them in the quarter-finals for the first time since 2006/07, when they last lifted the trophy.• The Rossoneri have won none of their last six home matches against Liga opposition but their overall record against visitors from Spain is W11 D6 L6.• Barcelona's away record against Serie A teams is W6 D7 L5. Their last defeat in Italy came at San Siro, 3-1 at FC Internazionale Milano in the 2009/10 semi-finals.• Barcelona won their first European Cup by beating UC Sampdoria 1-0 in the final at Wembley in 1992.• Milan lost their first European Cup final 3-2 to Real Madrid CF in 1957/58. General Stats Player Stats Visca el Barça
1. Would like to see us win this, preferably scoring more than once. So, 1-2 would be a great result. 2. As for the line-up: Valdes Alves-Pique-Puyol-Alba ???-Busq-Cesc Pedro-Messi-Iniesta Can't know yet for sure if Xavi is fit to play. If so, easy call. If not, then I guess Thiago to midfield or Iniesta to midfield and someone to attack (Alexis, or Villa if he is fit). Anyway, should be a tight match, and while I trust us to eventually advance, I don't see us getting the place in the top 8 easily.
2-1 would be great enough or 2-2, its so rare to see them no conceiding goal this season I just hope we could have more killer instinct and not doing unnecessary short passing when we're only 6 yards away from the goal, we all know who love to do this. Shoot it like Cesc and Pedro yesterday when we could find the gap.
The squad list for the match has been released: Valdés, Pinto, OierAlves, Piqué, Puyol, Mascherano, Bartra, Jordi Alba, MontoyaXavi, Iniesta, Fàbregas, Thiago, Sergio, SongAlexis, Messi, Pedro y Tello
Players carrying two bookings, in danger of missing Camp Nou return. FCB: Mascherano, Pedro, Song ACM: Bonera, Flamini, Montolivo
I agree with you on that, but just saying, if we keep conceding goals home and away we will pay the price in the CL. And who knows, if Milan defend deep, crowd out Messi and catch us on the break, etc. Don't get me wrong, it is a tie we should win comfortably, but the defensive lapses could make it more difficult that it should be.
I think our defence is better than its reputation is at the moment. I mean, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Masch and Alba didn't suddenly forgot how to defend. Agreed that if we wanna go deep in CL, better wake up in defence though. Can't concede like we have conceded this season so far. Agreed also we should advance, not so sure about "comfortably".
*knock on wood* I really don't see how this Milan team should be a problem for us. No Balo and no El Shaarawy. Only way would be if the players start losing their focus. Mods feel free to delete this for fear of a jinx
Yeah, posts like that can come back to bite you in the backside. By the way, do all the Milan players go to the same barber?
Easy ... don't let them have the ball In all seriousness I am just hoping because this is a big CL game and we had tougher than expected time with them last year, that the defenders will be extra attentive.
Yeah. The thing is, while we are likely to advance, it's naive to expect this being easy. Milan is Milan, and CL is always tricky.
Villa and Adriano not available but Xavi in the squad and I will guess the lineup is as Rana predicted above: Valdes Alves-Pique-Puyol-Alba ???-Busq-Cesc Pedro-Messi-Iniesta With Xavi in the role of ???, Thiago most likely if Xavi is not ready to go. Still think we could see Sanchez play a part in the game or Tello who scored last time - either one might spell Pedro who is on two yellows.
I'd take the chance with Pedro. Don't want to see Alexis start this after his performance on Saturday. We always have it difficult against Milan, it doesn't matter who they have in their team. We will have to struggle to win at San Siro, but I'd take a score draw if you offered it to me right now. It's a big game and that would be a positive result to take home.
Why? It's a good result. Even a goalless away draw turned out to be good last season against them. It doesn't matter though, Milan have European DNA and they will give us a very difficult match in Italy at the very least. They will be ready. I am not taking them for granted, like some of you are.
A score draw is a good result, I agree with that. But given the situation "take a score draw or not", I wouldn't, because I think we're more likely to get a better result than a worse result than a score draw. Basically, I'd be happy with a score that would see us still lead the aggregate even if we concede the first one in Camp Nou. (Not saying a score draw is a disaster, but it definitely is more of a meh than a great result) Never took them for granted, and I don't people here taking them for granted either. But when we talk about great results for us, a draw is a little, well, dream a little higher imo.
No one said it's a draw or nothing. Just said that a score draw is a very good result to take back home for the second leg. Obviously we'd all love a win but it doesn't just work like that. Leon and bob said that we should win this comfortably and have no problems with Milan, which I completely disagree with. Has everyone forgotten Athens 1994? Some of you act like that was 20 years ago. It was only 19 years ago. Memories of that game still hurt deep down, but that's what can happen with Milan when everybody expects them to be down and out.
They didn't forget, but the ball retention of Busquets, Xavi , Iniesta has always made them look good. And lately 1 or 2 of those guys have been out of the lineup, hence the shakiness. So I think its a mistake to start both Alba and Alves if Xavi isn't able to go.
I'm not saying a score draw isn't a good result. But I think the two likeliest possibilities are, indeed, a score draw or a Barca win - so then, would I take a draw? Nah. Oh, missed them. But it's not like the "gonna be easy" is the opinion of a majority. Yeah I obviously agree - not gonna be easy. Memories still hurt from 1994? I'd say get over it lol. Big stage, tough loss, but that's what happens.
I dunno about Alves and Alba. I mean I'd start them both anyway, but would make sure they don't attack too recklessly at the same time.