Champions League (Matchday #5): Milan vs FC Barcelona

I dont see why creating 2 v 1 in the fullback position is important to us.

Talking about what other teams have done to Milan is irrelevant, because we play nothing like those teams.

We had 2 v 1 on the wings in the first game, all that space did was give us the chance to cross balls. Which is something we dont and didnt do.

No matter our formation, Milan will be deep and allow us space wide. Teams defend narrow and allow that space because we never use it.

Also Zeal, we didnt fail to beat Milan at home because we failed to pull them.

We got our goals, it was Busi playing centerback that cost us the game.

The Franchise wrote:Also Zeal, we didnt fail to beat Milan at home because we failed to pull them.

We got our goals, it was Busi playing centerback that cost us the game.

More or less true but one of said goals was a "get out jail free" card from Messi. Those don't come off all the time despite how good he is. Had Barca done a better job of exploiting Milan's weaknesses they could have had more than two.

Milan succeeded at exploiting your weaknesses, set plays and lack of pace at the back.

Tactical battles don't always decide games or even the goals that happen in them. But they can be used to influence the game. Milan like most Italian sides bar Juve and Napoli play very narrow. You could score through the middle but that doesn't mean there isn't an easier way you could go about scoring.

If who ever play wide in the front three for Barca are supported then Barca will win and win well. My 2 cents at least.

Also Barca created more than enough chances to put Milan away at Camp Nou it had nothing to do with not pulling them around enough......

Also Nesta was playing like he did in his prime lol.

Understood Zeal.

Just saying, I think a change to 343 makes us better defensively against a team like Milan who play very centerally. We will have an extra player in midfield and they dont have any wingers so when we press they will be forced to kick it long. In a 433 they will have do that at times anyway, but even more so with an extra player forward for us. So the idea for the change is mainly for defensive purposes.

As for attack. I felt, like Mole, we created more then enough chances and got 2 goals. By changing we lose the advantage of our fullbacks in oceans of space, but for us, how important is that when the fullbacks dont cross the ball? Hardly any.

We play through the center anyway and we always will. The pulling from Villa and Sanchez for example will still be there and I think Pep instructed the wing players in a 343 to stay even wider then normal.

If they press us up high, then maybe we could see some problems getting out from the back but we will see just how often they do that.

If they do, I think Busquets could drop next to Pique while Mascherano and Abidal go wide like fullbacks and we have an easy way out.

I see your point. If a draw suits Barca than playing a 3-4-3 to make the game a tight affair definitely makes sense.

I just assumed Barca would be going for the win to ensure top spot :p

Immaculate_Mole wrote:Also Barca created more than enough chances to put Milan away at Camp Nou it had nothing to do with not pulling them around enough......

Also Nesta was playing like he did in his prime lol.

This... I don't really see how the first leg is discouraging for Barca. They simply should have won. Had the chances to put the game away and let in 2 goals cheaply, the only 2 Milan shots. Its away so Milan will believe they can attack a little more, which should mean more chances for them, but also more for us. If we put our chances away, we should definitely win.

Some say that Puyol may be on the right hand side though I would have a 3-4-3. Valdes, Pique, Puyol, Abidal, Busquests, Xavi, Thiago, Fabregas, Sanchez, Messi, Villa. Maxwell, Kieta and Pedro will probably come on. It will be an interesting game and hopefully there will be a few words from the Barca players to Ibra. Probably Pep will have a few words as well...

I have bad feeling about this game. We will play in our 3rd jerseys (that away jersey from last season, ) just the same like in semi-final vs Inter (that pink one, also 3rd jerseys), Iniesta is out, I think Milan may snatch a win, I would be very happy with a draw. Hopefully our unbeaten streak and Puyol unbeaten streak will go on. :dance:

Hopefully no Keita in starting XI and no JDS (I fear that Pep might put him as RB in this game )

My prediction: 1-1

I'm hoping for this.

Some Stats (@khaledbarcelona):

#FCBarcelona Stats vs #ACMilan: 12matches (4W,4D,4L) scored 16goals and conceded 16. #fcblive

#FCBarcelona vs #ACMilan | Biggest Barca win: 5-1 (EuropeanCup1959/60) | Biggest ACMilan win: 4-0 (CL 1994) #fcblive

Barcelona XI (vs. Milan): Valdés; Puyol, Masche, Busquets, Abidal; Keita, Xavi, Thiago; Cesc Messi, Villa.

Pique Bench why? !! @

Khaledbarca wrote:Barcelona XI (vs. Milan): Valdés; Puyol, Masche, Busquets, Abidal; Keita, Xavi, Thiago; Cesc Messi, Villa.

Pique Bench why? !! @

Looks like this to me.......


Weird, very weird......

And Keita

Keita

valdes
puyol-masch-busi-Abidal
Xavi-Keita-Thiago
Messi-Cesc-Villa

to me it looks like:

----------------V.V.--------------------

Masch -------- Puyol ---------Abidal

-------------- Buschi-----------------
--Xavi----------------------Keita----
--------------- Thiago --------------

Messi---------Cesc---------Villa


I don't mind Keita it's not playing Alexis that makes me sad/mad

If he plays Buschi CB Pato is gonna have a deja vu.... shit....

Messi aint playing on the right, he aint done it for over 2 years he aint going to start now lol.

robinho is starting not pato,we lose finishing but we get some better dribbling and passing

Xavi! Great goal, wonderful calm, patient football. Barely broke into a sprint that whole move. Fantastic play by Keita.

I'd just like to point out guys... despite the Keita bashing, he's not a useless player. I did wonder if he might start because of his pressing abilities. This is the position he can and should play, the left of centre midfield. Offers a different option in attack and defence. The only reason he gets such criticism is when he plays at DM, which he isn't even that horrible at, its more simply that Busquets is irreplaceable there.

Thiago's playing brilliantly.

The 3-4-3 in defence is looking flimsy right now... IMO we're really missing Pique and Alves. Yes... I'd rather Alves at RCB than Puyol. Better match fitness, mobility and 1v1 defending.

Messi's struggling to get into the game which worries me, need to get him central somehow.

Immaculate_Mole wrote:Messi aint playing on the right, he aint done it for over 2 years he aint going to start now lol.

Yes he is Mole... and he has done it in the last 2 years... he's done it a number of times this year actually.

Blatant penalty and Messi should learn his lesson there too lol.

Also, why was Van Bommel given the first goal? Xavi got the last touch I'm sure...

Ibra playing very well, looks like he's got a point to prove and is really playing with passion and hunger for once in his life.

Yeah, though there was a contact, Xavi went down a bit easy IMO. Tough luck for Milan

asi es facil jugar, barca?

^ Bueno, el arbitro nos debia uno por el penalti que no pito en el camp nou, por la falta de Nocerino a pedro

As I said before, Messi and the defence are the problems to be rectified.

I expect Pep to act on the defence problem pretty quickly as it will sew up this game. Puyol hasn't been great and hasn't convinced me on that right side. Looks slow and unconvincing 1v1 and isn't able to use his real defensive skills. I'd bring on Pique as soon as possible and I also wonder why Montoya wasn't brought on this trip...

As for Messi, I'd bring him centrally. He's offered little wide, while Cesc hasn't been great through the middle. Villa's also been quite poor, but he's still offering a good outlet and just needs to put one in to get his confidence back. For me, he's hardly match fit... hasn't even been playing. Bring Sanchez on for Cesc in my opinion. This would also help our defence as Sanchez offers loads more defensively.

Thiago's been the best player on the park... what a star.

My 2nd half team...

This or... just bring on Pique into a 4-3-3.