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Today in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals, Barcelona will have a unique opportunity to finally avenge the humiliation suffered over a decade ago against Milan.
In 1994, in the final of this tournament legendary Johan Cruyff's Barcelona, often referred to simply as the "Dream Team", who had won four consecutive Spanish league titles and the club's only European Cup in 1992, were crushed by Milan's footballers by a score of 4-0.
Now, the team that many consider even better than the Barcelona of the past decade has the chance to get revenge and become the first team since 1956 to eliminate Milan in the prestigious European tournament semifinals.
Barcelona leads 1-0 before the second leg. It is worth mentioning that Barcelona has not lost at home in European competitions for the third season in a row, so they have a very solid position to reach the tournament final for the fifth time in the club's history and the first time since that fateful night in 1994.
Unlike Milan, who had to work hard over the weekend to beat Messina 3-1, Barcelona is well-rested ahead of Wednesday's match - the Spanish league match against Sevilla scheduled for Sunday was canceled due to a waterlogged pitch caused by a broken rainwater channel.
The victory against Messina restored Milan's hopes of fighting for the Italian league title against Juventus, as only three points separate the two teams with three rounds to go until the end of the championship. Nevertheless, Milan's coach Carlo Ancelotti stated that the Champions League is more important to him.
In Milan, the advantage gained is not exaggerated, according to Barcelona's coach Frank Rijkaard: "A 1-0 lead is an advantage, but we always have to play for the win." The goal scored at San Siro stadium should not become an obsession for us, these matches will be completely different. I don't want to think about what could be our biggest mistake, all we need is a victory."
Although Barcelona had a great opportunity to treat a minor muscle injury in their ranks during the canceled Spanish league matches, today the Catalan club will have to do without the injured defender Oleguer, the safe Argentine Lionel Messi, and Xavi who is still not fully fit, but Deco and Henrik Larsson have returned to the team lineup.
Both C. Ancelotti and A. Nestos are uncertain for today's match. If he cannot take the field, it is very likely that the center-back duo will be formed by the Dutchmen Jaap Stam and Georgian Kakha Kaladze or Paolo Maldini. Meanwhile, striker Filippo Inzaghi is expected to return to the starting lineup after missing the first match due to illness.
Predicted team lineups
(4-3-3): Valdes; Belletti, Puyol, Marquez, van Bronckhorst; Deco, Edmilson, Iniesta; Giuly, Eto'o, Ronaldinho.
(4-3-1-2): Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Kaladze, Serginho; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaka; Shevchenko, Inzaghi;"
