Barcelona 4-0 AC Milan: Live Score, Highlights, Recap
By on March 11, 2013
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David Ramos/Getty Images
UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Barcelona 4-0 AC Milan (Barcelona progress 4-2 on aggregate)
12 March 2013
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Scoring
5' Messi
40' Messi
55' Villa
90+2' Jordi Alba
Lineups
Barcelona XI: Valdes; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Villa
Milan XI: Abbiati; Abate, Zapata, Mexes, Constant; Flamini, Ambrosini, Montolivo; Niang, Boateng, El Shaarawy
Recap
Lionel Messi scored twice and Andres Iniesta had a hand in three of Barcelona’s four goals as the Catalan giants overturned a 2-0 deficit to AC Milan by winning 4-0 at the Camp Nou on Tuesday.
Messi opened the scoring after just five minutes when, with three white shirts behind him and three in front, he shimmied the ball from his right foot to his left and arrowed a drive above and beyond Milan goalkeeper Cristian Abbiati for the opener.
Milan quite nearly escaped the opening period without conceding again, but Massimiliano Allegri’s halft-time team talk was completely altered after Messi put the hosts 2-0 up in the 40th minute.
Only second before Milan forward M’Baye Niang had rang his shot off the far post, and with Massimo Ambrosini preparing to launch another Rossoneri attack Iniesta stripped his opponent of the ball and played an exquisite pass to Messi, who this time bulged the corner of the net inside the far post.
David Villa put Barcelona ahead on aggregate just 10 minutes after the restart thanks to some superb buildup play from Iniesta and Xavi, and in the second minute of second-half stoppage time Jordi Alba ran onto Alexis Sanchez’ cross-field pass and rounded out the scoring with a confident finish for a left-back.
Barcelona will now go into Friday’s draw for the next two rounds of the Champions League.
David Ramos/Getty Images
Andres Iniesta is my Man of the Match. He didn't find the back of the net but had a hand in each of Barcelona's first three goals.
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
FULL-TIME: Barcelona overturn a 2-0 aggregate deficit and win 4-0 at Camp Nou. Goals from Messi (2), Villa and Jordi Alba. The Catalans go into the pot for Friday's draw.
Messi did ever so well to hold the ball up before dishing to Alexis, who found Jordi Alba scampering down that left flank, and the Barcelona left-back made no mistake.
GOOOOOOOOOOOL BARCELONA!!! They're through to the next round!
90+1' Constant with a very strong challenge on Messi, but no complaints.
90' Milan whistled for offside. Boy oh boy I'm not sure the Barcelona defenders knew anything about that.
89' Milan with their best spell of possession so far, and Barcelona counter and force a corner. They're obviously in no hurry to take it. It suddenly got very nervy here.
86' Milan committing everyone forward, even Zapata and Mexes. Suddenly Camp Nou is nervous, whistling every Milan touch.
Remember three weeks ago, when Jordi Roura was incompetent?
84' Barcelona substitution: Pedro makes way for Adriano.
82' Robinho has made a difference for Milan. He cuts in from the right and plays a dangerous ball into the goalmouth, but Jordi Alba sticks out a leg and pokes it behind the goal for a corner.
80' Xavi, on his arse, manages to turn possession the other way. Robinho had taken Milan into the box, and it must be said -- again -- Barcelona looking a bit wobbly in defense.
One substitution I missed: three minutes ago former Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic replaced Mathieu Flamini for AC Milan.
78' Barcelona substitution: Puyol replaces Mascherano.
77' Abate, who has been a rare bright spot for Milan this evening, forces a corner after diving into Jordi Alba, who had scampered down the left.
David Villa was quiet much of the night, but when he had his one opening he made the most of it and scored what, at the moment, is the goal that will put Barcelona through to the quarterfinals.
74' Barcelona substitution: David Villa replaced by Alexis Sanchez.
David Ramos/Getty Images
73' Messi, Xavi and Iniesta playing in their little, world-class triangle. Iniesta, I must say, has been absolutely magnificent this evening. For me, he has been the difference-maker.
Milan's inexperience on display for the world to see tonight. If results don't change, the better team went through and that's that
— Matteo Bonetti (@TheMilanGuy) March 12, 2013
The thing is, it's not about Milan. Not a bit. It's about Barcelona -- the players they have been fortunate to have in the same generation, and the dominance that has come as a result. A once-in-a-generation team.
Until last season (at Genoa) Constant was a midfielder and a good one too (at Chievo). Then was converted to left-back.
— James Horncastle (@JamesHorncastle) March 12, 2013
He has been overrun tonight, but it's certainly not all on him.
68' Barcelona's most nervy moment of the night. Pique and Mascherano looking very wobbly, which is an encouraging fact for AC Milan.
66' Abate with a really nice cross into the goalmouth after a powerful run, but none of his teammates had arrived into space. Hard to believe, but all Milan need is a decent 25 minutes -- and a goal -- and they would still go through.
61' Milan substitution: Muntari for Niang.
Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images
60' Milan substitution: Robinho for Ambrosini.
A goal still puts Milan through but there is literally no reason to believe it's coming. More likely to see Barca finish 5-0, it seems.
— Sam Borden (@SamBorden) March 12, 2013
We know one thing -- there won't be extra time.
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