Barcelona vs AC Milan Preview: Champions Start Campaign Against Depleted Rossoneri

The UEFA Champions League 2011-2012 starts with the mouth watering clash between two most successful clubs in Europe, FC Barcelona and AC Milan. The teams share between them 11 European Champions League, with the Milan side winning 7 while Barcelona 4. The current Barcelona side has won all the laurels around the world and are projected as one of the best teams in the history of football by many. But AC Milan are a traditionally big team and they have travelled a bit on the way of recovery after having poor form for a few years.

Team News:

Barcelona:

Barcelona lost their newly signed winger Alexis Sanchez due to a hamstring injury in their last league match against Real Sociedad. Defender Gerrard Pique has not yet recovered from his injury while Carles Puyol is back to the squad recovering from a knee surgery that kept him out for around half a year. However, I don’t think Pep Guardiola will not risk starting him and give him some more rest and may be a substitute appearance late in the game. The pairing Fontas and Busquets did not go very well in the last match and it is possible that Pep Guardiola put Abidal back as centre back with Busquets supporting him. Mascherano will play as the defensive midfielder and Alves and Adriano will almost certainly be the wing backs. With Guardiola, for the first time in his coaching career, having a lot of options for the attacking 5 players it is difficult to guess what he will end up thinking. But I feel he will start with his normal line up with Xavi and Iniesta in the midfield and Messi, Villa and Pedro on top of them. Cesc Fabregas will come on as an impact substitute replacing any one of them other than Messi.

Probable Line up:

Valdes, Alves, Busquets, Abidal, Adriano; Mascherano, Xavi, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Villa.

Missing the comeback to Camp Nou

AC Milan:

AC Milan goes to play the toughest match of the season, away to all-conquering Barcelona team, without a lot of their first team members. They will miss the services of Barcelona loanee Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who got injured during the training. With Robinho also missing, coach Massimilliano Allegri will have only Pato and Cassano to chose from to play upfront. They will also miss the services tough game breaker Gattuso and Mexes due to suspension while Taye Taiwo and Flamini will be absent with injuries. I expect Milan coach to come with cautious approach as this is a group stage away game and even the most optimistic Milan fan also do not hope to top the group. Allegri’s plans will be to thwart the Barcelona attack and end up in a draw. Expect Van Bommel to play the tough defensive midfielder role and try to stop Messi. With only two strikers to choose from he will most likely play with a lone striker and Kevin Prince Boateng linking up from behind. Cassano may be used as a second half substitute depending on situations.

Probabel Line up:

Abbiati; Abate, Thiago Silva, Nesta, Antonini; Nocerino, Van Bommel, Ambrosini, Acquiliani; Boateng; Pato.

What to expect:

Do not expect great quality box to box football from this match. AC Milan, as I have repeatedly mentioned will be cautious in their approach and play defensively only to try and go on counter attacks. Though Barcelona boasts off the best attacking line up, Milan are good with their defence. Thiago Silva is one of the best defenders in the world and Nesta is very experienced. Add to them the defensive abilities of Van Bommel, Acquiliani and Ambrosini, you get a tough wall to break. Expect Barcelona to be frustrated around the box by tough defending, but the moments of brilliance from the attackers will bring out some results. Pato will mostly be left alone and will not be able to do much, but with mistake prone Busquets as centre back there may be some surprises.

Players to watch out:

Lionel Messi:

Whatever be the situation, whoever be the opposition, when this man plays he is the one to look out for. He will have a tough day with strong and experienced people looking after him on the ground. But you can always expect wonders from the little magician. With no Sanchez and Fabregas possibly restored to bench, Messi will have to be at his incisive best to find out a hole in the wall and take his team out of the frustrations. Surely, you cannot forget the midfield masters Xavi and Iniesta, but they will have to target this man, as usual, to get the job done.

Mark Van Bommel:

With Milan missing some of their star players, this man will have the most important job to do. He will, possibly, be employed to harass Messi throughout the field. Whether scoreline remains decent depends a lot on the performance of this guy. Master of tough tackling, he will be the man the Barcelona fans will fear and AC Milan fans will ride their hopes on. Expect him to get at least one yellow and I won’t be surprised if he is sent off at some point of the game.

Prediction:

Barcelona have set such a standard for themselves an away draw to a decent side looks like a horrible thrashing at home. Confidence of the fans and players are a bit lowered after they horribly gave away a 2-0 lead to end in a 2-2 draw. But again, just two weeks ago, they thrashed fellow Champions League participant, Villarreal 5-0 with only one natural defender, a new formation and two new players in the squad. They need to use this match to regain the confidence.

Milan do not have much to lose. They are the underdogs and missing a few good players. A draw will be as good as win for them and the fans won’t complain if they lose by a goal or two.

I expect a one-sided affair in terms of possession and attacks and Barcelona ending up with a 3-0 win. I know this is harsh, but that’s how I feel.