Barça added another chapter today in their series of noteworthy performances this season. In November, it was the
0-3 win in Madrid. In February, it was the
1-2 win in London. Today, it is the 0-1 win in Milan. These victories in the Santiago Bernabeu, Stamford Bridge, and San Siro are focal points that show just how much Barça have matured against the biggest clubs in European soccer. Some may dismiss it as a coincidence, but these wins have come in stadia that begin with the same letter.
By logical progression, Barça's next performance of note this season should take place in another stadium that starts with an S: Stade de France, the host of the UEFA Champions League Final in Paris on May 17, 2006.
The first of the two Champions League semifinal matches had many interesting subplots: 1) the return of Frank Rijkaard to San Siro, where he and the current Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti were respected players for Arrigo Sacchi's legendary Milan side; 2) Silvio Berlusconi's first European match following his defeat in the Italian polls; and, 3) the
Battle of the Brazilians [Dida, Cafu, Serginho, Kaka, and Amoroso for Milan vs. Ronaldinho, Edmilson, Motta, Silvinho, and Belletti for Barça].
While these aspects are entertaining for the spectator, coaches know that they must focus, mentalize, and isolate their players from the euphoria to avoid destablizing them. Matches at this level and between teams of such pedigree (both of these clubs were founded in 1899) are often decided by tiny details where the team that shows the maximum concentration edges out.
In the absence of Xavi, Messi, and Larsson through injury and Deco through suspension, Rijkaard opted for a starting lineup that included Victor Valdes in goal, with a defensive line of Gio Van Bronckhorst, Puyol, Marquez, and Oleguer. Iniesta, Edmilson, and Van Bommel got the call in midfield, while Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Giuly were charged with the task of scoring a vital away goal.
After the initial adjustment period, it was a patient Milan who imposed themselves over a jittery Barça. The
Rossoneri were buoyed by a vociferous home crowd and looked sure to break the deadlock in the 15th minute when Gilardino first hit the post and then Shevchenko's header from inside the six-yard box was saved by Valdes. Barça on the other hand, were restricted to some long distance shots from Eto'o and a couple of freekicks from Ronaldinho that did nothing to fluster the experienced Milan defense.
Rafael Marquez, making his return to the starting lineup from a muscle injury, was putting in an uncharacteristically nervous display that was preventing Barça getting the ball upfield cleanly. In one such compromising lost ball, Puyol was forced to track back to cover and his foul on Gilardino earned him a yellow card. With the clock ticking away towards halftime, Barça changed their strategy. Having held Milan off for more than 35 minutes, they were content with renouncing attack in favor of ball possession. When the French referee Alain Sars whistled for haltime, Barça were happy to have prevented the hosts from going into the locker room with a 1-0 advantage.
Rijkaard's chat in the locker room brought dividends as the second half began. Iniesta was particularly pivotal in Barça's ability to keep the ball and both he and Van Bommel were quickly winning it back before Milan could capitalize. The fact that Milan did not threaten Valdes in the opening ten minutes of the second half boosted Barça and frustrated the home side.
It was then that Ronaldinho appeared like a sun peeking through the clouds and justified his billing as the world's best footballer. Receiving the ball from some 30 yards outside the Milan goal, he swiveled around his defender and spotted Ludovic Giuly's darting diagonal run with a lofted pass over the Milan defense. The tiny Frenchman ran onto it, and from a tight angle on the left, fired a one-time shot into the roof of the net past Dida.
It was a hugely important away goal, and the perfect reward for the former Monaco player who has quietly assumed his role on the bench this season to make way for Lionel Messi. The San Siro faithful were so stunned that even the jubilant songs of the tiny minority of the 1,500 Barça fans could be heard.
Barça grew in confidence after that goal and could have easily doubled their lead but for Ronaldinho's shot that hit the base of the goalpost following a counterattack. In the ensuing minutes, Barça played as comfortably as if they were in the Nou Camp, streaking together pass after pass and tiring Milan out. The
Rossoneri showed that the goal had done them psychological damage, as they lacked their usual concentration and incisiveness.
Seeing Barça's determination and control, Ancelotti renounced attack in favor of keeping the
Blaugrana at bay, and introduced the defensive minded Maldini, Ambrosini, and Cafu in place of Pirlo, Gattuso, and Stam. Rijkaard, too, opted to safeguard the lead by replacing Giuly and Oleguer with Belletti and Motta. Curiously, however, it was the defensive midfielder Ambrosini, who, thanks to Kaka's creativity, had two chances in the last ten minutes of the game that he spurned. Had he or Kaka scored on any of those chances, Milan would have been able to retain their record as never having lost a semifinal and remaining undefeated at the San Siro in more than two years in European competition. With four minutes remaining and seeing the victory within grasp, Rijkaard replaced Ronaldinho Gaúcho with Argentine Maxi Lopez.
As the final whistle blew in Milan and the thoughts of
culés drifted to Paris, the Barça players, coaching staff, and club president Joan Laporta all stressed the importance of keeping feet on the ground. The curtain has fallen on a first act in a Cathedral of football that is San Siro, but an equally important act remains to be played some 456 miles away in another Cathedral of football that is the Nou Camp. Barça will have to work twice as hard to make sure that tonight's advantage does not become undone in eight days time. Only then can we walk this path that was lit for us tonight by Ronaldinho and Giuly that will culminate in
la Ville Lumière (the City of Light) on May 17, 2006.
Visca el Barça!!Credits:
Article by Akshat Divatia, Penya FC Barcelona New York City Nevada Smiths
Photos courtesy of ElMundo.es, ANSA.it, FoxSoccerChannel.com, and AS.com, and match highlights courtesy of Futbol Arte.
