AC Milan, FC Barcelona’s next Champions League rival
Barça will face the same team they met in the last season’s quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League. Winners of seven European Cups, the Italian giants are currently immersed in a generational changeover and not challenging for the Serie A title. Historic figures such as Seedorf, Gattuso, Nesta and Inzaghi all left this summer, and Thiago Silva and Ibrahimovic were sold to PSG. El Shaarawy is the main threat and Bojan the most familiar face for Barça fans.
Barcelona (FCB).- Barça will face AC Milan in the Champions League’s last 16. The Italians have won 7 European Cups and last season faced Barça in the group stage (2-2 at the Camp Nou and 2-3 at the San Siro) and in the quarter finals (0-0 at the San Siro and 3-1 at the Camp Nou). FC Barcelona Barça will first face AC Milan in the San Siro on February 20. The return leg at the Camp Nou will be on March 12.
This is not one of the great AC Milan teams maybe, but a side with Milan’s history is always going to be a favourite and this year is no exception. Milan were runners up in Group C, behind Malaga and ahead of Zenith and Anderlecht, after winning two games on the road and taking just two points from two draws at San Siro.
Lack of consistency in Serie A
Milan are having a mixed season in Serie A (14 points to Juventus). The Italian team attempts to adapt to the big changes in the summer caused by the departures of Seedorf, Gattuso, Nesta and Inzaghi, as well as the sale of Thiago Silva and Ibrahimovic to PSG.
Leading scorer El Shaarawy
Milan have replaced these players with figures such as De Jong, Montolivo or ex-Barça player Bojan Krkic, who has been primarily used as a super sub. The main threat form the Italians is undoubtedly from top scorer El Shaarawy, who has 14 goals, the magic if inconsistent Robinho and the injury prone Pato. Although the Milan fans know they are perhaps short on big name stars, there’s plenty of trust in the experienced Mexes, Nocerino and Boateng and the faith that seven European Cups will always create.