Having dominated the final stages of the Champions League for several years it is difficult to imagine a semi final without at least one of the Premier League clubs, but that is how it is this season and for me the two best teams in the competition will line up against each other tomorrow night at San Siro.
Two very different teams of course, and both with a chance of making it through to the final of the competition. From a purists point of view it of course there is only one possible outcome, that Barcelona make it to the final and dazzle us all with their beautiful football skills to win the Champions League for a second consecutive year.
The Castrol Performance data champions league stats show that Barcelona pass the ball more than any other team in the competition, completing over 6,000 passes so far, and comfortably ahead of Bayern Munich with 4,120, with Arsenal in third place.
Four of the top five passers in the Champions League this season all play for Barcelona. Xavi is head and shoulders above the rest, with 950 successful passes in nine games, that’s more than 100 successful passes per game.
Dani Alves has been creating havoc as usual with his runs up the field from full back, along the right flank. 19 of the Brazil international’s crosses have found a teammate, the most in the competition this season.
And what can you say about Messi. His goals against Arsenal moved him above the previous top scorer this season Cristiano Ronaldo and the Barcelona player has a conversion rate of one goal for every four attempts. His dazzling skills with the ball at his feet show that he is the player most likely to dribble, with 49 successful dribbles during the cup run.
So what can Inter Milan bring to the game. Well despite expecting Barca to have the lions share of possession, Milan will remain safe in the knowledge that they have only conceded one goal in the knock out stages and offer the best defence of any of the remaining teams.
The rock at the heart of Inter Milan’s central defence is Lucio. The 31-year-old Brazil international has only missed one game in the Champions League this season (the first-leg win against CSKA Moscow due to suspension), winning more tackles than any other player in the competition.
So Barcelona have to stick at their game and find a way past the aging Inter defence, while keeping a keen eye on the speed of Milan’s counter attack play.
Jose Mourinho knows that his players will have to work hard to close Barcelona down, the two teams met in the early stages of the cup drawing 0-0 in Italy and Barca winning 2-0 in Spain.
I loved this from Mourinho, ” I am not interested in the possession of the ball. If the team that has the most possession wins, then we have already lost.”
It will be an intriguing battle over the two legs, lets hope that it is also a great advertisement for the game.
1 comment so far
1 Football Tips UK - Wayne // Apr 20, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Barcelona could only managed to win an away game out of 5 in Champions League competition. Thus, I don’t expect any outstanding performance from them when travel to Milan tonight.
For the host team, it is a good sign to Mourinho after successfully defeated Fiorentina and Juventus last week. That was a great warm up to Inter Milan in preparation for tough challengers. From there, it has proven that Mourinho knows very well to handle different type of strong challengers.
Inter Milan with 1/4 head start sounds a value bet.