AC Milan vs Barcelona: 5 Things Milan Must Do to Overcome Barca

AC Milan will meet Barcelona tonight at Camp Nou in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg. The Rossoneri are a draw or better away from a date in the semifinals. 

Though Barcelona hasn't been beaten at home in Europe since October 2009, Milan will fancy their chances tonight. The Italians were able to get a draw in their group stage meeting at Camp Nou earlier this season.

The club will still be without Thiago Silva and Mark van Bommel, but has gotten several key players back from injury in time for the game. Alberto Aquilani, Ignazio Abate and Alexandre Pato all return for the Rossoneri, and all three will most likely make an appearance.

With under 10 hours until kickoff, here are five things Milan must do to overcome Barcelona.

Make Better Decisions in the Final Third

Milan started the first leg pressing high up the pitch. This caught Barcelona off guard in the opening five minutes, and prevented them from getting their passing game started. 

Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic both had early opportunities to put the Italians in front. But due to poor shooting and good goalkeeping, the score remained level. 

In the second half, Milan was able to get on the ball more and had several counter attacks that should have led to more than just wasted opportunities. Antonio Nocerino and Urby Emanuelson were both guilty of poor passing and poor ball control when the Rossoneri had caught Barcelona in transition.

These attacks petered out, and Barcelona was able to get back on the ball. Tonight Milan has to do better with the ball when they are in sight of goal. At Camp Nou they cannot give the ball away so close to goal when it's difficult to win the ball in the first place. 

Challenge the Barcelona Defense

Barcelona's defense features a centre-back playing out of position at left back, a central midfielder, a right back who spends more time in midfield and the boyfriend of a pop star. If Milan is to have success they must attack this defense as often as they can. 

There's no arguing the club's strategy in the first leg was to play balls to Ibrahimovic to win in the air. The Swede did fantastic with the scraps he was given, and his ability to win the ball and hold it up prevented Milan from having even less position. 

Milan will most likely continue with this strategy, as it worked in the first leg. But playing the ball on the ground once the ball is won and running at the likes of Carlos Puyol and Gerard Pique is vital.

Puyol has been injured often this season, and he looked quite tired as the first leg wore on. He is a natural centre-back, and he isn't used to galloping up the left flank. Pique, on the other hand, has had a poor season by his standards and he lacks the pace of the other two Barcelona defenders, Javier Mascherano and Daniel Alves. 

In the 2009 Champions League semifinal, Chelsea attacked a similar Barcelona defense of Pique, Puyol, Alves and Eric Abidal and was the best team for nearly the entire match. Though Chelsea had a team very different to the current Milan squad, lessons can be learned from that match. Milan must do the same as Chelsea did when the opportunities arise.

Barcelona prefer to pressure high up the pitch to prevent the back four from being under too much pressure. If Milan can get through the Catalan midfield, their attackers are just as likely to put the ball in the back of the net as Barcelona's. All they need is a score draw to go through—something the Italians got in the group stage of this season's Champions League.

Use Alexandre Pato

Alexandre Pato is a much maligned player by fans and critics, but there's no doubting the Brazilian's talent. 

Pato scored in the club's draw at Camp Nou in the group stages, but hasn't featured for the club in sometime. Pato was once a highly sought-after player, but in the last few years injuries have kept him on the sidelines.

The Brazilian has scored only three times in 16 matches this season. However, Barcelona had difficulty handling him in their earlier meeting. 

Fellow Brazilian Robinho was a disappointment in the first leg before going off injured, and Pato's addition to the squad gives manager Massimiliano Allegri more options off the bench. Pato could be the club's wild card off the bench.

Defend, Defend, Defend

Milan's back four of Daniele Bonera, Alessandro Nesta, Luca Antonini and Philippe Mexes were outstanding in the first leg. Add the work done by defensive midfielder Massimo Ambrosini, and it was one of the best defensive showcases any team has had against Barcelona in some time.

Milan played a style reminiscent of Catenaccio, and at times had 10 men behind the ball, with Ibrahimovic as the only outlet. Though Christian Abbiati made several key saves, the tactics worked. The club must do the same tonight, and they will get a boost with the return of right back Ignazio Abate, who will most likely slot into the team. 

Allegri's decision to press Barcelona high up the pitch in the first match was a master stroke. Milan must do the same thing tonight, and hope to put away their chances when they come.   

Milan Doesn't Have to Beat Barcelona. Barcelona Has to Beat Milan

The brilliance of the club's scoreless draw in the first leg means they don't have to beat Barcelona to go through. Milan need a score draw or better to advance, while the onus is on the Catalans to score and defend against the Rossoneri.

If Milan find themselves down a goal early, Barcelona is still the more vulnerable side. This is very similar to the 2009 semifinal second leg between Chelsea and Barcelona. Chelsea led for most of the match, only to give up a late goal and go out of the tournament. Perhaps history will repeat itself, but in a slightly altered way tonight. 

The away goal rule is still one of the most important rules in football, and Milan's ability to hold Barcelona in the first leg was immense. In fact, it was the first time in 30 European matches that Barcelona has been held.