Barcelona go head to head with AC Milan in the battle for the semi final ticket of the European Champions League. These two European giants have together won five out of the last 10 Champions League. Last week, in the first leg, Milan and Barcelona played a goalless draw. The stalemate was the first time in 30 games that Barcelona did not score in a Champions League game and Milan will have to play the game of their lives to repeat such scoreline today in the Nou Camp. Barcelona needs an outright win to qualify while a draw will take Milan through.
Barcelona is seen as the favourites to retain the Champions League they won last year and the last time a team won the Champions League back to back was in the 1989/90 season when Milan then lead by Dutch trio, Marco Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit conquered Europe. But since the format of the Champions League changed in 1992, no team has been able to achieve that feat. Milan played in three straight finals in 1993 to 1995 but won just one. Juventus played the final from 1996 to 1998 but won just once.
Barcelona is often regarded as the best team ever and for them to lay claim to that title, they need to be the first team to retain the Champions League. They have no injury worries ahead this encounter as Fabregas who missed the first leg due to a back problem is set to return. Barcelona won 2-0 on Saturday in the league and a similar scoreline against Milan today will take them to the semi final where they will certainly meet Chelsea which has one foot already in the semis.
Milan saw their lead in the league cut to just two point after they drew 1-1 to Catania while Juventus thrashed Napoli 3-0. Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns to the Nou Camp for the first time since joining Milan and will certainly get a hostile reception from the Camp Nou fans. In the group stages, Milan played a two all draw against Barcelona at the Nou Camp and a similar scoreline will take the Rossoneri through. Milan will still be missing Thiago Silva and Nesta will certainly partner Mexes in defence while Zlatan must produce his magic if Milan is to go through since he was anonymous in the first leg. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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