FC Barcelona vs. AC Milan: 2012 UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Preview

When AC Milan met FC Barcelona for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final match, the two clubs ended the defensive battle in a 0-0 draw.  Both sides produced viable chances, but every shot was deflected or squandered. 

Tomorrow the two European giants will meet again at Camp Nou.  Barcelona has an advantage considering they have not lost at home in European competition since 2009.  However, if both teams score and the match ends in a tie, Milan will progress because of the away goals rule. 

In the first leg, AC Milan created a couple of decent chances for their strikers, Robinho and Ibrahimović, but both failed to finish on each occasion.  In the third minute, Robinho volleyed a shot from ten feet out, yet the ball sailed well over the goal.  Later on, Ibrahimović wasted a breakaway when he softly slid the ball right to an oncoming Victor Valdés. 

The remainder of the game progressed with little or no influence from the Swede who was caught offside on multiple occasions.

If AC Milan are going to progress to the semifinals, they must finish better in the second match.  They also must account for at least one goal from Barcelona whose possession-driven attack works seamlessly in their own stadium.

Carles Puyol is expected to reclaim the captain's armband, and Cesc Fàbregas will probably make an appearance as well.  For the Italian side, Alexandre Pato has returned from injury and will possibly sub in for Robinho or Ibrahimović.  In September, he scored 24 seconds into the group stage match against Barcelona. 

For Catalan side, the key to the game will be possession as always.  If the midfield can create opportunities for their strikers, but also make it difficult for AC Milan to organize an attack, Barcelona will most likely progress.

AC Milan will probably be allowed relatively few opportunities because any side that plays Barcelona usually maintains possession less than 50 percent of the match.  Ibrahimović must get more involved, either by creating more openings to shoot or by holding the ball to give Milan's midfielders a chance to run the pitch.