Barcelona vs. AC Milan: 5 Players to Watch in UEFA Champions League Tie

The clash of two giants of European football, Barcelona and AC Milan, will undoubtedly be the standout fixture of all the Champions League ties this evening.

With a number of key players out injured from each side, the five players to watch this evening will be those who are given the task of either breaking down the opposition defence or keeping forwards at bay.

What could very likely be a Champions League final, this fixture, which features some of the world’s best players, is guaranteed to feature goals, and there is certain to be one or two players who will rise to the occasion.

Lionel Messi

The world’s best player will as always play a key part in tonight’s match. Messi will look to pick up where he left off from last year’s campaign, scoring one of the three goals which beat Manchester United in the final and scoring a total of 12 in all of last year’s competition.

There will be great expectation on Messi to perform tonight and get Barcelona’s 2011/12 Champions League season off to a flyer with a win over one of their main rivals for the trophy this year.

The neutrals will look favourably towards Barcelona due to the fact they have scored in all of their last 21 Champions League games, with much of the attack going through the Argentine.

Messi will once again play through the middle this evening, dropping deep and rotating with a likely deep-lying forward in Cesc Fabregas.

Thiago Silva

Thiago Silva’s primary job this evening will be to attempt to keep Lionel Messi quiet. There’s no doubting the Brazilian’s ability as a centre back as he quickly became the central figure for the Milan back-line.

Thiago was instrumental in last year’s title winning campaign, playing 39 games in all competitions and picking up only one yellow card.

Thiago Silva will look to smother the little Argentine, allowing him very little time and space and will look to the Milan midfield to cut the supply to Messi.

Expect a competitive battle between the two South American’s, both of whom are very much on top of their game.

Cesc Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas will be determined to kick off his first Champions League home game for Barcelona with a bang and a huge victory over the Milan side.

Already scoring three goals in Barca’s last three competitive games, Fabregas will look to continue the partnership he and Lionel Messi have created. The two have already combined wonderfully well for a number of Barcelona’s goals this season and will of course be a handful for the Milan midfield and defence.

Fabregas has a wealth of experience playing in the Champions League for Arsenal, scoring the winning goal against Milan away in the San Siro in 2008.

Mark Van Bommel

Mark van Bommel will likely play the most important role of all the Milan players this evening. The former Barcelona midfielder will look to play his usual game of snapping into tackles, unsettling the nerves of the Barcelona creative players and of course and arguing his way through the match.

Another vastly experienced Champions League performer, van Bommel won the title with the Catalans in 2006 and finished runner-up with Bayern Munich in 2010.

If Milan have any hope of coming away from this game with a result or a respectable score-line, van Bommel will play an integral part in keeping the Barca danger-men quiet.

Alexander Pato

In the absence of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alex Pato will look to take on the goal-scoring responsibility alongside one of either Robinho or Antonio Cassano.

The young Brazilian has often played second fiddle to his compatriot, Robinho, with the former Manchester City and Real Madrid forward preferred as a partner for the tall Swede.

But the impressive forward like Milan possess will no doubt be a cause for concern tonight for Barcelona, who are likely to field a make-shift back four with Carles Puyol still not at 100 percent.