2010-11 UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Analysing the Milan-Tottenham Pairing
The 2010-11 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 boasts several intriguing matchups, including a rematch of the 2009-10 final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich and a replay of last year's quarterfinal coming together of easy on the eye sides Arsenal and Barcelona.
However, the pairing with the greatest potential for exciting football lies in that of final-third juggernauts A.C. Milan and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Rossoneri finished second in a rough Group G behind Real Madrid without really clicking on the European stage. Managing victory just twice, finding it both times against group bottom finishers Auxerre, Milan disappointingly notched just seven goals and conceded just as many across the six group stage games.
Domestically though, Milan are setting Italy alight as they sit atop Serie A, six points clear of any Scudetto challengers thanks to an exhilarating offensive machine powered by Alexandre Pato (before succumbing to injury), and summer signings Zlatan Ibrahimović and Robinho.
Champions League debutantes Spurs, meanwhile, topped Group A in new-coming, record-breaking, net-finding fashion and have already experienced the San Siro having faced A.C.'s crosstown rivals Inter in Gareth Bale's thrilling European coming-out party.
At the moment, the Lilywhites are fifth in England's Premier League, looking like the best side in the Isles when Bale and midfield engines Luka Modrić and Rafael van der Vaart are on form, while at times making some wonder how exactly they aspire to another top half finish, much less top four.
Come February, Spurs will hope to recapture their group stage form, while Milan will want to transfer their Serie A electricity to the Champions League.
Team Strengths—A.C. Milan
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Offensive Firepower
Zlatan Ibrahimović, Alexandre Pato, Andrea Pirlo, Robinho, Ronaldinho, plus the ever increasing likelihood of Antonio Cassano by January...
If those names on A.C. Milan's team sheet don't strike fear in defenders, I don't know if any will.
Any combination of Ibra's power, Pato's efficiency, Pirlo's know-how, Robinho's pace and Ronaldinho's trickery would have any defence spread wide and on their heels if all cylinders were firing—just ask the six Serie A opponents the Rossoneri have put three or more goals past.
If Massimiliano Allegri's men take to the pitch healthy and hungry against Spurs, look out...
Champions League Experience
Needless to say, the Rossoneri have been here before.
Milan have tasted European glory a second-best seven times, twice in the last decade—and seven men remain from the 2006-07 championship side.
European pressure is clearly familiar to the Milanese giants, so not a single man will listen to the Champions League anthem in Italy or England unsettled by the bright lights of the knockout rounds.
This composure will serve the side well against any opposition, but quite possibly more so when pitted against newcomers Tottenham.
Team Strengths—Tottenham Hotspur
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Offensive Firepower
Surprise.
En route to becoming the only club in the history of the Champions League to score at least two goals in each group stage fixture, Tottenham hit the back of the net 18 times thus far in their maiden voyage in Europe's top flight, 24 if their qualification effort against BSC Young Boys is taken into account.
Led by lethal scoring threat Gareth Bale, classy finisher Rafa van der Vaart, and goal predator Jermain Defoe, Spurs haven't feared being outgunned yet, and certainly won't in the foreseeable future.
Pace
Spurs ran this way and that all over their competition in the group stages—hell, they do it in the Premier League as well, week in and week out, win or lose.
Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko, especially the former, stretch back fours with relative ease; both Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon could stake a legitimate claim as fastest man in football; Luka Modrić's recent dash from central midfield against Liverpool speaks for itself; and from fullback positions, Benoît Assou-Ekotto and Alan Hutton keep up with the paciest wingers the Premiership has to offer.
If either of the two ties with Milan are left too wide open—which is far from unlikely—watch for the Lilywhites to treat the pitch like a track.
The north Londoners counterattack with the best, and given the opportunity in the New Year, they'll give the Italians a real run for their money.
Team Weaknesses—A.C. Milan
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Full Back Issues
Not one of the Rossoneri full backs have been particularly impressive thus far this campaign, domestically or in Europe.
Yes, Ignazio Abate did well to hold off the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ángel di María against Real Madrid.
Yes, Luca Antonini, Daniele Bonera and Gianluca Zambrotta are chock full of experience and guile.
But, not one of the aforementioned have put together a string of consistent performances this season. And only Abate really has the speed to track the likes of Bale and Lennon.
Unless Milan add another full back in the January transfer window, they will have their hands full—possibly too full—when Spurs come calling.
Aging Midfield
Massimo Ambrosini, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf—each name holds its own significance in recent football history.
However, the past is, well, in the past.
Each of the above is on the decline, and the youngest of the five is 31 years old. While all are in good fitness just to play as long as they have, the amazing energy of Bale, Lennon and Modrić could prove too much to handle, leaving much in the hands of a shaky back four.
While the likes of Mathieu Flamini and Kevin Prince-Boateng match Tottenham's youthful midfield, if one or both are not selected or perhaps are unable to go, the elders would have to step in.
Can you say mismatch?
Team Weaknesses—Tottenham Hotspur
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Goalkeeper Gaffes
Brazil international Heurelho Gomes has not had the easiest of times in the Premiership since his 2008 switch from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, and can put in a commanding performance one week and an embarrassingly poor one the next.
Recent games have painfully put this Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde nature on display for Spurs fans.
In the North London Derby Gomes denied a fantastic Cesc Fàbregas effort to hold a 2-2 draw late on, allowing for Younes Kaboul's header in the dying moments to be decisive.
Then, just three weeks later he let a Didier Drogba strike deflect off of weak hands, squandering a 1-0 lead and quite possibly two much-needed points.
In the end, Spurs never know which side of Gomes will show up on a given night—and if it's the uglier against the Rossoneri, well, the European adventure stops at the first knockout phase.
Revolving Door at the Back
Spurs have tried seven different men in central defence thus far this season, including midfielder Tom Huddlestone!
With just about every man capable of slotting in ahead of the 'keeper seeing stints on the sidelines with injury, Tottenham could not say with any certainty who will be fit for the trip to the San Siro in February, much less who will play.
If the boys from N17 are lucky, the effective pairings of Englishmen Michael Dawson and Ledley King, or that of Frenchmen William Gallas and Younes Kaboul will be available.
However, with the curse of centre halves still going strong at White Hart Lane, the luck they need may only come after a deal with the devil.
Key Man—A.C. Milan
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Zlatan Ibrahimović
Since his high-profile loan move from FC Barcelona, super Slavic-Swede Ibrahimović has been on fire in A.C. Milan's red and black stripes.
Netting 13 goals in 20 appearances across all competitions, including four in the group stages, it appears nobody can hold Ibra down.
As the focal point of the Rossoneri attack, Ibrahimović will have a lot riding on his shoulders in the Champions League knockout stages—which in the past has been an issue for the powerful striker.
Ibra is known for folding under the pressure of big matches, and if it rains in London for the return leg, he may just melt as well.
If he can maintain his high levels into the New Year though, and keeps his head when the chips are down, he could press Tottenham's central defence into the mistake prone ways that have marred Spurs' season to this point.
Key Man—Tottenham Hotspur
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Luka Modrić
For those of you who follow Tottenham through the headlines, it is understandable to expect Gareth Bale's name in bold.
But of course, you would be dead wrong.
Described by Spurs gaffer Harry Redknapp as "a manager's dream," diminutive Croatian midfielder Modrić is the heartbeat of Tottenham Hotspur.
Rarely does Luka pick out the wrong man; he is always on, near, or moving to get a hold of the ball; playing in the middle, he breaks down attacks a surprising amount of the time and gets counterattacks moving in the blink of an eye.
There's all of that—and then when Modrić is not in the lineup, it's clear.
A Spurs incarnation sans No.14 lacks organisation and ingenuity. Without him, the ball goes wide to Bale and Lennon almost exclusively and all chances are created via crosses from the wing (see Tottenham's group stage visit to SV Werder Bremen).
To put it simply, if the Lilywhites stand a chance of progressing into the quarterfinals, they need Modrić bossing the midfield against Milan.
Prediction
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Feb. 15 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
Assuming Gomes plays a little less aggressively than in his last visit to Milan, Tottenham should play this match out with eleven men.
However, the Rossoneri should not need a one-man advantage to take it to the visiting Spurs.
The energy at the San Siro ought propel the home side to a win, but with Milan's likely trouble handling Tottenham's second half speed and goalscoring boots there should be goals aplenty.
In the end, this writer says the first leg ends Milan 3-2 Tottenham.
March 9 at White Hart Lane, London
European nights are special at the Lane and Tottenham have not yet let their fans down, nor are they likely to do so when they play host to Milan, as Spurs will come out swinging.
The wingers will turn the jets on early and make the Milanese full backs' heads spin; Van der Vaart (or Modrić, depending on the injury situation) will find soft spots between the midfield and back four; and the strikers will be ready to pounce all night long.
Of course, while the Lilywhites will run the show, Gomes and Co. won't be able to keep a clean sheet whether Ibra is a puddle at the centre of the pitch or not.
By the end of the night though, Milan's away struggles in the group stage carry over into knockout play—up Tottenham by a score of 3-1, seeing them advance 5-4 on aggregate.
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