CHAPTER 56: The Path to Paris ........Il Rossoneri awaits

"Who dares, wins." - SAS

It’s set.

This coming Tuesday (or the early morning of Wednesday in Asia), the titanic tussle between AC Milan and FC Barcelona will take place. It’s the semi-finals of the Champions League, and there’s nothing as bigger than that yet.

For Frank Rijkaard and his team, this will be the biggest test yet of the season. And for every Barcelonistas around the globe……..it will be another point in time where we all we’ll be cheering hard and hoping desperately as possible that los Blaugranas can make it…….yet at the same time the game is on we all be in a state of desperation, nervousness and uncontrollable tension. It’s the muthafu-kin’s semifinals man, the prize of being victorious here is that a date with the final of the competition itself, where the European Cup awaits:

It’s going to be an interesting and intriguing tie, foremost ‘cause both teams have locked horns before last season in the group stages, where both matches were some of the best last season (Milan winning it at San Siro 1-0, while Barça winning at Camp Nou 2-1). Top, top quality.

And more so interesting because this will be a match where Rijkaard will confront his former team once again, and he will duel out again against his former teammate at Milan, Carlo Ancelotti. Two ex-Milan players (ex Milan legends) spearheading their team into the final of the Champions League…….stuff that scripts of a blockbuster movie entrails all this extravaganza of football of the highest order.

For me, this clash of the big boys will be as hard but even harder than the one faced up against Mourinho’s Chelsea. This is (personally), Milan is a better team than Chelsea.

Theirs is one that consists of not only a great football team, but that also consists of great individuals in every department of their team. Milan has a great depth in their squad, and the experience that most of their players possess is what makes them more dangerous. It’s gonna be a great spectacle when you look at the battles that will occur on both the turf of San Siro (this Tuesday) and Camp Nou (next Wednesday).

The Giuseppe Meazza stadium, or more famously known around the world as San Siro, will be the fortress of AC Milan that Barcelona will have to visit first in this semifinal clash. And it’s a fortress as Milan has not yet been defeated at their home ground this season in Europe, and what more with the records and showing that they have shown at their home ground this season (example, the 4-1 beating of Bayern Munich in the second round and their last quarter-finals match against Lyon where they scored two late, late goals to clinch a place for the semifinals). It’s not going to be easy that’s for sure, and it’ll be as hard as hell to break down that Milan defense.

Milan got Dida guarding their goal. And he’s as big as Petr Chech. Ever since the last World Cup had been concluded, Dida has become Brazil’s first choice keeper and he’s shown to be a top class keeper, easily among the top 6 keepers in the world right now.

It’s gonna be tough for Eto’o, Ronaldinho, Giuly and co to score past him, what more with the back four of Milan guarding Dida in front of him.

It’s gonna be tough for Barça to slice trough the Milan defense, which is one of the best in the business. They got top class defenders, and well experienced defenders. Headed by their eternal captain Paolo Maldini (one of the best left-backs ever to feature in the game of football, no doubt), you got guys like Nesta, Stam, Cafu, Alsseandro Costacurta marshalling the Milan goal. Alongside them, there’s also Serginho and Khaka Kaladze to name a few. These guys‘re all the have been there, done that, and these guys have defended against some of the best attackers in the business for the past years in their illustrious careers. Champions in every right (what with the wealth of experience and expertise that they pose).

The only thing is that, these guys are older than most of the Barça players themselves, and all are getting older more so. For instance, Maldini is like 37, Stam and Cafu all above 30 already, Nesta’s near 30, and Costacurta is 40!

Milan's great (aging) wall of defence: (L-R) Maldini, Costacurta, Nesta, Stam, Cafu

I feel that even though they are tough in defense, if the Barça attack can be quick enough and faster than Milan on the break, Barça can cause trouble on their back line. Milan’s defense themselves have been broken big time before in Europe. One just have to look at the final last year (where after leading Liverpool 3-0 in the first half, only to concede three to Gerrard’s team in six minutes). Then there’s that amazing comeback from Deportivo la Coruna two seasons ago, where they reversed a 4-1 margin of Milan by making it 4-0 against the Rossoneri at La Riazor and thus dumping Milan out!!.

Then you got the midfield. As always in football, it’s in the midfield where a football game can be won or lost.

Milan’s got an excellent playmaker in Andrea Pirlo (‘Inter Milan reject’). This guy is the one who orchestrates the passes from the defense to the Milan forward. He’ll be coming up against Iniesta from Barcelona no doubt (who has come up and performed well in the recent matches), the battle of the pivots that will be making those crucial passes and dictations of the game.

One thing to mention about Pirlo (when comparing to Iniesta) is that unlike Iniesta, this guy is very good at set-pieces, especially freekicks. He scored a cracker against Schalke at the San Siro last year (in their group stage matches). The difference with Iniesta is that at Barcelona, the set-pieces are usually taken by Ronaldinho. If not Ronnie, then you got Deco….Van Bronckhorst…Marquez….Motta……so Iniesta’s not even on the list (so many kickers for Rijkaard to select from). But it will be interesting to see how these two perform for their respective teams in the two matches.

Besides Pirlo, there’s the ‘Rhino’, Ivan Genaro Gattuso. Gattuso is one of the best defensive midfielders in the business. He’ll be tackling like mad, and even though he’s not that tall, this guy’s very robust and tough, plus he got the looks of a dangerous man!

It’s gonna be another interesting spectacle to see him coming up and double teaming on Ronaldinho (that’s for sure, no doubt). Either Ronnie gonna make him look like a fool, or he’s gonna break the legs of the Brazilian.

And when you look at their attack, one that has Kaka and Shevchenko in it (amongst Inzaghi, Gilardino, Seedorf, etc.) ……..you’re looking at an attack that can score at any time, at any place, no matter what’s the circumstances are.

Kaka, when going up, is just as dangerous as Ronaldinho. This player can cause havoc against any defense in the world, he’s that good. Another Brazilian hotshot, he’s very crucial for Milan. He’s got pace, good shot, trickery and vision. It’s gonna be tough for whoever the defensive lynchpin that Rijkaard will choose to contain Kaka (most probably Edmilson). ‘Cause by at least shutting out Kaka in the game, Milan’s effectiveness of scoring would be less. But it will be difficult, and everytime Kaka would get the ball,….. it’s gonna be damn ANXIOUS when he be running with it!.

But this Milan side is not complete without their star man…….their distinctive number 7. Andrey Shevchenko. Who for me,… is the best striker in the world.

Shevchenko’s the ever present hitman of this Milan side. Shevchenko possesses everything a striker’s repertoire should have, good shots, precise and clinical finishing, he gets into position so he can receives the passes from his teammates well, he’s equally good with his feet as well as with his head, his got a hunger for winning everytime he plays, he’s fast, and…….he scores plenty of goals (no matter up against who). That’s why, I think, Shevchenko’s the best striker in the world at present.

Eto’o could learn a lot from the Ukrainian. Even though Eto’o has been impressive ever since he joined Barça, but he still miss some chances (easy chances sometimes). Some more, when it comes to finishing, he‘s not as clinical as Shevchenko is (or as Henry, or even as Ronaldo for that matter). Hopefully Eto’o will step up big time this time. He needs it. Though, the threat that Shevchenko gives is always a serious menace to come up against. Puyol and Marquez will have their task complicated and troublesome.

Milan's dangerman

Here’s hoping that Ronaldinho can turn on his magic in Italy, a big match from will will serve Barcelona big time for the second leg.

It’ll be a big battle at San Siro come this Wednesday, and add to that Barcelona will be without three key players; the suspended Deco and the injured Larsson and Messi. With this fact, perhaps Milan will have the slight advantage, more so they're playing at home first. But it's difficult to predict since this is a showpiece between two good teams. I'll say it'll be very tight, in both matches.

Barcelona's absentees: Deco, Larsson, & Messi

Xavi is still out (for both legs), but at least now’s he’s close to regaining full fitness and is on his way to full recovery.

Well, let’s hope we’ll be treated to a great game of football in the coming two weeks. There’s 180 minutes to play, 2 games to play, and everything to play for. Paris is waiting for the victor.