Cool Messi punishes Milan lapses
Antonio Nocerino’s first half goal cancelled out Messi’s first spot-kick — his 50th goal in the competition — providing AC Milan with the momentary hope they might halt Barcelona’s progress to the last four but it was all too fleeting, and after Messi had converted again from 12 yards, after Alessandro Nesta stupidly wrestled with Sergio Busquets, while Andres Iniesta completed the win.
Nesta bemoaned the decision, claiming he was the victim of a foul by Carles Puyol, though he admitted Messi was the difference between the sides.
“I pulled Busquets a bit, but I was being blocked from behind by Puyol,” said Nesta. “It was a foul on me as well. At least from what I saw on the pitch, the referee awarded the foul before the ball was in play. I think the referee could’ve done a lot better.
“We could’ve done a bit better on the counter-attack, seeing as we scored with that tactic. We scared them a few times, but then we stopped doing it properly. It’s Barcelona and you can’t get anything wrong against them.
“We had the game back on level terms, but they have Leo Messi, who for me is 70% of the team. He makes the difference.”
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola saw the penalty incident a little differently. “Two clear penalties weren’t give to us at San Siro and we didn’t say anything. Player was held back, that’s a penalty.”
The outcome means Chelsea will face Benfica tonight knowing they will face Pep Guardiola’s side if they can build on their first leg lead in Lisbon.
The scoreless draw in the first leg at the San Siro had only strengthened Barcelona’s standing as clear favourites to make it through to the semi-finals for a fifth successive season and the opening moments offered to nothing to suggest that view was misplaced.
It was clear this would be a night when the Italian side’s tradition of defensive excellence would be placed under intense scrutiny. The Argentine could have had a hat-trick inside 11 minutes; as it was, he had to be satisfied with just one goal.
A weaving 50m run from halfway was capped by a left foot shot that was pulled across the face of goal in the fifth minute before, two minutes later, Messi wastefully shot wide, albeit with his weaker right foot, after being set up by Cesc Fabregas’s excellent layoff.
It was never going to last, and moments later the South American recovered his poise as Milan self-destructed for the first time. Philippe Mexes, the France centre back, committed the first mistake in under-hitting a back pass whilst being pressured by Messi who broke free into the penalty area.
The Barca forward’s pull-back was misplaced, but a failed clearance meant the ball rolled back to Messi who was fouled by Luca Antonini. A penalty was inevitable, and Messi took full advantage.
It was a perfect start for the Spanish side and for 20 minutes they played with a confidence and assurance that suggested the tie was as good as over.
But Milan kept their concentration and stunned Camp Nou with a finely crafted move of their own.
Clarence Seedorf found Zlatan Ibrahimovic whose excellent threaded pass anticipated Antonio Nocerino’s move behind the Barca backline and the winger finished confidently for his first Champions League goal.
Had Milan maintained the position until half-time, the growing tension may have influenced the rest of the tie. The fact it didn’t was due entirely to Milan themselves and in particular, Nesta who betrayed his years of experience by conceding a second penalty five minutes before half time for blatantly, and needlessly, manhandling Sergio Busquets at a corner. This time Messi drilled the ball into the other corner and Barca’s lead was restored.
The challenge confronting Milan was to impose themselves on the game in a way they had found beyond them during the first half. It was a daunting task, and one that appeared beyond them from the moment Andres Iniesta extended the home side’s lead eight minutes after the restart.
Messi was again involved, indirectly providing an assist when his shot was deflected into the path of Iniesta, who stayed composed to lift the ball beyond Abbiati from close range.
The visitors were crushed. Barcelona substitutes Thiago Alcantara and Adriano both had opportunities to add a fourth but the remainder of the second half was played out with Milan apparently resigned to their fate and Barca’s thoughts already elsewhere.
BARCELONA (3-4-3): Valdes 6; Mascherano 7, Pique 7 (Adriano 6,75), Puyol 7; Alves 8, Xavi 6 (Thiago 63), Busqets 7, Iniesta 8; Messi 9, Fabregas 6 (Keita 6,78), Cuenca 6.
AC MILAN (4-4-2): Abbiati 6; Abate 6, Nesta 5, Mexes 5, Antonini 5; Nocerino 6, Ambrosini 7, Boateng 6 (Pato 6,69; Lopez 6,84), Seedorf 7 (Aquilani 6, 61); Ibrahimovic 5, Robinho 7.
Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland).
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