"The Messi Show" Again

Before last night no team in Champions League history had recovered from a two goal first leg deficit without having scored an away goal. For any side the mountainous task would appear almost impossible, not if you’re Barcelona.

After losing three of their last five games, two to arch rivals Real Madrid, it seemed that the greatest team in the world had reached a stage of decline following the departure of manager Pep Guadeola last summer. Some were calling it “the end of an era”

With present manager Tito Vilanova currently away from the team recovering from parotid gland cancer, the side have clearly lacked required leadership this season.

In his absence the Spanish giants, who have dominated Europe over recent years, lay on the brink of a tragic Champions League exit before the quarter finals. The thought was simply unthinkable.

An unexpected 2-0 deficit to AC Milan after the first leg at the San Siro the perfect stage was set for a Barcelona master class with a packed out Nou Camp behind them.

Lionel Messi, on his day Unstoppable 

Barcelona’s 4-3-3 formation abruptly turned into 3-5-1-1 with a three man defence of Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba. Pedro and Dani Alves operated the wings sandwiching the midfield trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets who endlessly stretched the Milan defence. David Villa led the line with the ever indescribable Lionel Messi drifting behind him.

Overall the home side contained eight Spaniards, just a shame we don’t see as many regular English players in our own Premier League.   

The intensity levels of the opening twenty five minutes were truly mind-blowing; on a carpet like pitch Barcelona’s high tempo passing produced a unique football experience which only comes along every so often.

Milan did their best to close down routes to their goal, but Barca still found even the narrowest of gaps, when a curling shot from Messi flew into the visitors net after just five minutes. The match had sprung into life.

Despite the hosts dominance the game pivoted on a two minute spell six minutes before half time. Although the final result looks convincing if Milan’s M’Baye Niang had converted a golden chance before the interval things could have swung the other way, as it happened the eighteen year old forward saw his one on one with the keeper rebound off the post, only for Messi to punishingly sweep home Barca’s second a minute later.

Even with David Villa’s third goal after the break an away goal from Milan would have seen them through, which on this performance from Barcelona would have just been wrong.

Some nervy moments followed, however they were all dashed when Alba sealed an historic victory in stoppage time, after he burst forward on a late counter attack tucking the ball away coolly to seal a resounding 4-0 win.

Although Messi will steal most of the headlines the whole team performance from Barcelona was one of intent, a message to the rest of Europe. From a neutral point of view the Champions League just wouldn’t be the same without Barcelona.   

Ruthless Milan Run Rout Over Arsenal

Arsenal’s Champions league dream was left hanging by a thread, after they were comfortably beaten by Italian league leaders AC Milan in a one sided affair at the San Siro. The Gunners were taken apart from the very beginning, as they were unable to cope with the attacking threat posed by their opponents eventually sinking to a 4-0 defeat.

Arsenal left out in form Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from their starting line-up, and looked out of ideas in midfield leaving Robin Van Persie isolated in a lone striker role. Milan were forced to replace Captain Clarence Seedorf early on, however this didn’t prevent them from opening the scoring with just 14 minutes on the clock. A perfectly weighted ball from Antonio Nocerino found Kevin-Prince Boateng whose stunning strike flew into the back of the net to give Milan the lead. After that Arsenal were left searching for their best form while looking vulnerable to Milan counter attacks throughout the night. In contrast Milan’s strikers of Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic always looked a threat making dangerous runs behind the Arsenal back four. The second goal came 8 minutes from the break when Ibrahimovic slotted through the Arsenal defence to pick out Robinho, providing the Brazilian an easy header to double their advantage.   

Boateng's strike was the start of a humiliation for Arsenal

The Gunners introduced Thierry Henry in the second half, as they looked for inspiration from their legendry striker in his last game of his loan spell. But not even he could make an impact, as the hosts added a 3^rd just after the restart. Ibrahimovic was again involved when his pass was helped by a crucial slip from Thomas Vermaelen, presenting Robinho with a clear sight of goal where he made no mistake in adding his second putting Milan in full control. Arsenal finally came to life with half an hour to go, as they pushed for an away goal to rescue the tie. However despite their efforts Arsenal couldn’t find a way back in to the match, the closest coming when  Van Persie’s volley looked to be heading for the bottom corner only to be denied by Christian Abbiati which proved to be his only real save of the night. Milan’s 4th finally came from man of the match Ibrahimovic when his tricky footwork forced a foul from Johan Djourou, giving the Swedish striker the chance to seal the win from the penalty spot resulting in Arsenal’s heaviest defeat in European history. Arsene Wenger later called the loss “shocking” and admitted his side were all but out of the competition. The Gunners must now turn their attention to this weekend’s FA cup tie with Sunderland in their only realistic chance of a trophy this year.