In Their Own Way

 

Echoing the words of right-back Daniel Alves, Barcelona overturned a 0-2 first-leg deficit against AC Milan in the Champions League Round-of-16, "in their own tempo". With mesmerising passing movements and determined collective pressing, Barcelona dominated their opposition and came out 4-0 winners in a thumping performance.

Lionel Messi was the star of the show, with two sublime first-half efforts that flew into the Milan net and equalised the tie on aggregate. Both were sudden, ferocious efforts that culminated from quick, laser-like passing in the midfield trenches. Milan were overall stunned and seemed like half-zombies in the way they played. They made the mistake (as many opponents do) of trying to follow the Barca way of passing and keeping possession, and engaging in their own team pressing. However, we all know by now that no-one can out-Barca the way Barca play, and almost all of the time, the team that does that ends up in deep trouble.

After Messi's first goal, however, Milan had a great chance that could have effectively ended the tie as a contest. Javier Mascherano, replacing Carles Puyol at centre-back, misjudged the flight of a long ball and allowed precocious 18-year-old M'Baye Niang to have a clear run on goal with only Victor Valdes to beat. The teenager shot against the post and probably should have done better. Scoring then would have meant that Barca would require three more goals to win it.

In the second half, it was like the inevitable exodus that happened. Iniesta's laser-like through ball to David Villa led to the Spanish international prodding a calculated left-foot shot into the corner of Christian Abbiati's net. 3-2 on aggregate to the Spaniards. It was still relatively tight with Milan still needing only a single goal to progress, and they threw caution to the wind by bringing on offensive-minded players Robinho, Sulley Muntari and Bojan Krkic. But the final nail in the coffin came when substitute Alexis Sanchez crossed expertly for left-back Jordi Alba to stroke home the fourth. Game over.