Messi mauls Milan as Barca bounces back
Source: Agencies |
March 14, 2013, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BARCELONA playmaker Xavi said before Tuesday's Champions League showdown against AC Milan that the one thing missing from the current golden generation's curriculum was an historic comeback.
The box was ticked off in memorable style at an electric Nou Camp as Barcelona kept its bid for a third European crown in five years alive by becoming the first team to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit without the benefit of an away goal.
The painful memory of its toothless performance in losing 0-2 at the San Siro last month was banished as Lionel Messi struck twice and Barcelona romped to a majestic 4-0 victory that put it through to the last eight 4-2 on aggregate.
Pressure had mounted in the buildup to Milan's visit after Barcelona was knocked out of the Copa del Rey and beaten in La Liga by Real Madrid.
The tension increased further when Real, which Barcelona may meet in the last eight, eliminated Manchester United to reach the quarterfinals last week.
While its arch rival prospered, Barcelona's Champions League dream was hanging by a thread but Xavi and his teammates responded with a display that will live long in the memory.
"It has been many years since Barca managed an historic comeback and I have not seen the Nou Camp so animated in a long time," Xavi told reporters.
"We pressured them well high up the pitch and we played an exceptional game," added the 33-year-old, who has three Champions League crowns and is also a World Cup and double European championship winner with Spain.
Barcelona was unrecognizable from the side which limped through the first leg, harrying and hassling Milan from the start and driving forward at any opportunity.
Scoring early was crucial and after Messi struck in the fifth minute and doubled the home side's lead five minutes before the break - moments after Milan forward M'Baye Niang had hit the post - Barcelona never looked back.
David Villa, who scored Barcelona's third 10 minutes after halftime, saw little of the ball in his advanced central position but kept center backs Philippe Mexes and Cristian Zapata occupied, allowing Messi to exploit the space.
Center back Gerard Pique had issued another rallying cry before the game, saying Barcelona had to get past Milan for its ailing coach Tito Vilanova, who has stepped aside and handed the reins to assistant Jordi Roura while he has cancer treatment in New York.
Vilanova is due to complete the program towards the end of the month and should be back on the bench for the quarterfinal, first leg at the beginning of April.
"Tito Vilanova is very happy and he will be able to be present for the next round," Roura told a news conference.
The box was ticked off in memorable style at an electric Nou Camp as Barcelona kept its bid for a third European crown in five years alive by becoming the first team to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit without the benefit of an away goal.
The painful memory of its toothless performance in losing 0-2 at the San Siro last month was banished as Lionel Messi struck twice and Barcelona romped to a majestic 4-0 victory that put it through to the last eight 4-2 on aggregate.
Pressure had mounted in the buildup to Milan's visit after Barcelona was knocked out of the Copa del Rey and beaten in La Liga by Real Madrid.
The tension increased further when Real, which Barcelona may meet in the last eight, eliminated Manchester United to reach the quarterfinals last week.
While its arch rival prospered, Barcelona's Champions League dream was hanging by a thread but Xavi and his teammates responded with a display that will live long in the memory.
"It has been many years since Barca managed an historic comeback and I have not seen the Nou Camp so animated in a long time," Xavi told reporters.
"We pressured them well high up the pitch and we played an exceptional game," added the 33-year-old, who has three Champions League crowns and is also a World Cup and double European championship winner with Spain.
Barcelona was unrecognizable from the side which limped through the first leg, harrying and hassling Milan from the start and driving forward at any opportunity.
Scoring early was crucial and after Messi struck in the fifth minute and doubled the home side's lead five minutes before the break - moments after Milan forward M'Baye Niang had hit the post - Barcelona never looked back.
David Villa, who scored Barcelona's third 10 minutes after halftime, saw little of the ball in his advanced central position but kept center backs Philippe Mexes and Cristian Zapata occupied, allowing Messi to exploit the space.
Center back Gerard Pique had issued another rallying cry before the game, saying Barcelona had to get past Milan for its ailing coach Tito Vilanova, who has stepped aside and handed the reins to assistant Jordi Roura while he has cancer treatment in New York.
Vilanova is due to complete the program towards the end of the month and should be back on the bench for the quarterfinal, first leg at the beginning of April.
"Tito Vilanova is very happy and he will be able to be present for the next round," Roura told a news conference.
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