Milan denies Barca, Bayern cruises
Source: Agencies |
March 30, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AFTER successfully frustrating Lionel Messi and Barcelona, AC Milan believes it can oust the title-holder in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal at the Nou Camp next week.
Messi was harried, hounded and pushed by the Milan defenders who often used a rotation system, where defenders take it in turns to give away freekicks, to bring his trademark runs at the heart of their defense to an abrupt end.
Barcelona had 62 percent of possession but failed to score in a Champions League match for the first time in 2-1/2 years. When the Spanish side did create chances, it was thwarted by Milan's experienced defense, goalkeeper Christian Abbiati and some lenient refereeing from Jonas Eriksson.
Barcelona meanwhile has filed a complaint to UEFA about the state of the San Siro pitch. The Spanish club said it filed the complaint late on Wednesday after its players lost their footing and kicked up clumps of turf from the ground.
Bayern Munich won 2-0 at Marseille to stay on course for the semifinals.
Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben scored in the first leg of the German team's quarterfinal in France. Bayern, which will host the final in May, is on course to face APOEL Nicosia or more likely record nine-time champion Real Madrid.
"We have a return leg yet to play, so I don't want to talk about the semifinal and who we will be playing," Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said. "I don't really have any doubts, but I have respect for Marseille."
Messi was harried, hounded and pushed by the Milan defenders who often used a rotation system, where defenders take it in turns to give away freekicks, to bring his trademark runs at the heart of their defense to an abrupt end.
Barcelona had 62 percent of possession but failed to score in a Champions League match for the first time in 2-1/2 years. When the Spanish side did create chances, it was thwarted by Milan's experienced defense, goalkeeper Christian Abbiati and some lenient refereeing from Jonas Eriksson.
Barcelona meanwhile has filed a complaint to UEFA about the state of the San Siro pitch. The Spanish club said it filed the complaint late on Wednesday after its players lost their footing and kicked up clumps of turf from the ground.
Bayern Munich won 2-0 at Marseille to stay on course for the semifinals.
Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben scored in the first leg of the German team's quarterfinal in France. Bayern, which will host the final in May, is on course to face APOEL Nicosia or more likely record nine-time champion Real Madrid.
"We have a return leg yet to play, so I don't want to talk about the semifinal and who we will be playing," Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said. "I don't really have any doubts, but I have respect for Marseille."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
