Star studded Barcelona tamed by AC Milan in the first leg of Champions League.

         Tactically correct AC Milan has shown their class lastnight beating Catalan giant Bareclona by 2-0 margin at their home San Siro  in the first leg of the UEFA Champios League round of 16. Kevin Prince Boateng scored the first in the 56^th minute of the match from a controversial circumstance following a handball from Cristaian Zapata & Sulley Muntary put the final nail on the visitors coffin only 9 minutes to remain.

         It was a battle between two huge experienced coaches Mashimileano Allegri of AC Milan & Tito Vilanaova of Barcelona. This time we almost got the shadow of last year’s Champions League semifinal where Barcelona succumbed against the strategy of former Chelsea interim boss Roberto Di Matteo. This time we got the same defensive strategy from Milan boss Mashimileano Allegri & Barcelona failed to overcome the hurdle once again.

       In the other hand we can say it Milan has taken the revenge of last year’s quarterfinal defeat in convincing fashion against the same opponent. The record says its Barcelona first defeat against any kind of Spanish side since last 7 years last time they were beaten by the same Italian side in the final of Champions League 2004 where Barca was clearly whitewashed by 4-0 margin.

      Everybody knows Barcelona plays on short passed so the strategy of Allegri boys was cutting the link between those short passes in between  Barca’s renowned midfield & forwardline which was exactly executed by Milan players on the field.  As like all other Italian sides Milan started to compose their defence combination heavily against the mighty rival like Barcelona.

         In the absence of Mario Balotelli due to his previous appearance in this same tournament with Manchester City, Allegri started with Giampaolo Pazzini & Stephen El Sharaway in the upfront.

         While Barcelona has all but reclaimed its La Liga title, sitting a formidable 12 points ahead of arch rival Real Madrid in the table, so the Champions League has taken center stage. Lionel Messi geared up for this game over the weekend by scoring his 300^th and 301^st goals for the club, which is downright scary given that the consecutive fourth time Ballon d’Or winner is just 25 years old.

        Both the sides started in a see saw defencive style, both of them tried to compose the defence so not so many  positive chances were created throughout the entire first half, first half ended in a goalless stalemate.

        From the beginning of the second half we got two different sides both of them became positive for the much needed goal.

      The homeside started to attack through two wings, the visitors also started to counter. Result of that Milan got a free-kick few yards outside the box, Montelivo has taken an excellent free-kick, firstly deflected by a Barca player & went in the hand of Zapata, Boateng followed the deflection took a sharp turn & fired past the AC Milan custodian. During that goal the Barca defence remained standstill & appealed for a clear handball but unfortunately the Scottish referee Thompson rejected their appeal & taken the control of the match by showing a yellow card to agitated Gerrard Pique.

          The visitors might have lost their nerves due to swallowing a such kind of goal though they started to regroup themselves in the later stages sometimes reached in the front of the goal but due to the composed defence of Milan they failed to penetrate, they occupied few good free-kicks just outside of the top box but they wasted & ballooned away all of them.

          San Siro crowd erupted once again in the 81^st minute of the game while former Portsmouth player, Sulley Muntari made a darting run into the box in the 81st minute in which El Shaarawy brilliantly lifted over into his path perfectly which was volleyed home for the 2-0 advantage.

            Despite the onslaught of ball possession by Barca (65% to Milan’s 35%) the Italian defensive unit were poised to “park the bus” about 25 yards outside of their box to quell any oncoming danger.  Not only were the defenders highly motivated, but players like Kevin-Prince Boateng and even Stephan El Shaarawy were able to conjure up the energy to add pressure on the likes of Xavi and Iniesta to put them under constant bombardment.

            Lionel Messi the world was eyeing towards failed once again in mega encounter, AC Milan defenders always followed him & put him away from the ball. Along with that the question have raised why a giant club like Barcelon aalways succumbs in front of  pressure repeatedly.

      

         Whatever the door is not closed for Barca yet but it’s a quite tough job to overturn their 0-2 defeat against Milan at Nu-Camp in front of their home crowd in the return leg on 12^th March while AC Milan will start the second leg with a handy 2-0 advantage.

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