By Anna Italia
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          41% Ball Possession AC MILAN and  59% Ball Possession FC BARCELONA
    AC Milan 2 - 3 FC Barcelona             
                      20' Zlatan Ibrahimovic             14' Bommel (own goal)
                      55' Kevin Prince Boateng         31' Lionel Messi (pen)
                                                                       63' Xavi

                                 

AC Milan losing the direct encounter, but qualifying to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 as second place while FC Barcelona  qualify as leader of the Group H. Lady luck not with Milan, but almost everything went wrong starting with the own goal by midfielder Mark Van Bommel, then a dubious penalty conceded by midfielder Alberto Aquilani.... the rest.. the whistle of the end of the game.

 In the first round at the Camp Nou, the match ended with a draw.   BARCELONA 2 - 2 AC MILAN Goals by Pato, Pedro, David Villa, and Thiago Silva Tuesday September 13, 2011 - UEFA Champions League Group Stage
 

	UEFA Champions League Group Stage Group H Standing as of Wednesday November 23 2011	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	FC Barcelona	5	4	1	0	16	4	12	13
2	AC Milan	5	2	2	1	9	6	3	8
3	FC Viktoria Plzeň	5	1	1	3	2	9	-7	4
4	FC BATE Borisov	5	0	2	3	2	10	-8	2

Here is the official lineup from AC MILAN by coach Massimiliano Allegri:

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Christian  Abbiati, Abate, Alessandro Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta, Clarence Seedorf, Mark Van Bommel,  Alberto Aquilani, Kevin Prince Boateng,  Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho.


Here is the official lineup from FC BARCELONA by coach Pep Guardiola:

BARCELONA (4-3-3): Valdés, Puyol, Mascherano, Busquets, Abidal, Keità, Xavi, Thiago Alcantara, Fabregas, Messi, Villa.

Awesome guys!!!!!!  A sold out in San Siro.  Beautiful  view with giant AC Milan flags waving  proudly from right to left, left to right.   Close up also from former Italy prime minister Silvio Berlusconi who is the owner of AC Milan.    There is also closeup from Super Pippo Inzaghi supporting his teammates.  Inzaghi was not included in the Champions League list in this part, he might be included in the Round of 16 if he is fit.

Captain for AC Milan today is midfielder Clarence Seedorf and for FC Barcelona is Puyol.    Players making their entrance to the pitch with Seedorf walking proudly with high head while the fans applaud the team.     Lining up now for the Champions League Anthem and I already have goosebumps, imagine the players!!!!!  Wow,  what an emotional moment, unforgettable. 

Let's roll the ball.......  Referee whistles the  beginning of the match... showtime....  

Milan dominating the first 10 minutes, pressing, but the goal not arriving....

Oh no, you got to be kidding!!!! It's Barcelona to open the score in the 14th minute, oh mamma miaaaa gosh, what a confusion the goal is for Xavi?  own goal?.... well, first given to  Xavi in the action  from Keita making a  stop to accommodate with his right foot before sending the pass towards  Xavi, and here is the thing  from a different angle it looks  it is Xavi scoring, but another angle  with a barely deflection by  AC Milan midfielder Mark Van Bommel...  well, finally,  the decision is for "own goal.."

A redemption for Ibrahimovic,  his personal challenge and bam!!!! In the 20th minute and assist by midfielder Clarence Seedorf to  Ibrahimovic in the left side delivering a let footed shot  defeating Barcelona goalkeeper Valdes in the center.  Ibrahimovic with opening arms celebrating while his teammates embrace him...

No way, really?????? Is it ??????  Guys, in the 29th minute Referee Stark giving a penalty to Barcelona conceded by AC Milan midfielder Alberto Aquilani bringing down Xavi inside teh penalty area, hello... it was not a  strong  push, but  looks  Xavi making the best to land for the penalty...   Oh nooooo  on top of that, the referee also giving a yellow card to defender Alessandro Nesta for protesting????   

In the 30th minute, taking the penalty spot is  Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.    One on one with AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati, close up following each movement....  Abbiati trying to  guess which direction will take...  oh no.   what!!!!!  Messi converting the penalty  among the protest by Abbiati and Milan players  because Messi stopped completely before shooting, breaking, and it is now disallowed, indeed the goal is disallowed, so  Messi will have to repeat the penalty.  Messi also gets a yellow card.  Messi now takes his position for the second try....  oh well...  Messi converting with a let footed shot defeating Abbiati in the bottom right corner and  Barcelona takes the lead. 

In the 34th minute Referee Stark giving a yellow card for Mark Van Bommel for a tackle on Xavi

In the 43rd mintue a yellow card for Barcelona captain Puyol for a tackle on Milan midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng. 

In the 45th minute Referee Stark giving a yellow card to Abidal for a foul on Robinho.  We are collecting yellow cards in this first half....


First half ends 37% ball possession AC Milan and 63% ball possession Barcelona

Second half starts with a substitution for AC Milan.  In the 46th minute, it is forward Alexandre Pato replacing Robinho.

Say what!!!!    What a beautiful goal, a whole "kodak moment" a goal for an album collection. Yep, in the 55th minute it is a jewel with Boateng with a computer mind checking each spot and he  makes a movement to  accommodate the ball  passing Abidal while following the direction of the ball to shot a right footed shot from the right side defeating Valdes in the bottom right corer.   Boateng immediately celebrating with his pirouette, his Olympic turns, and San Siro going wild now with this equalizer goal....

Oh oh , spaghetti oh, you won't like this one....  In the 63rd minute Barcelona taking the lead again and this time the goal by Xavi is right... Messi with the assist and Xavi delivers a right footed shot defeating AC Milan goalkeeper Abbiati n the bottom  left corner. 

Ooops!  Guys, in the 66th minute a forced substitution for Milan with  defender Alessandro Nesta injured.. taking his place is defender Daniele Bonera.

In the 68th minute there is Barcelona making a substitution with the ex Udinese forward Alexis Sanchez replacing David Villa.
 
In the 86 minute Referee Stark giving a yellow card to Barcelona Javier Mascherano and Milan defender Gianluca Zambrotta for a bad foul.

Last minutes and Milan battling, attempting every shot,  following the ball, pressing, but Barcelona blocking.....

In the 90th minute Barcelona with a substitution  bringing Jonathan  Dos Santos replacing Thiago Alcantara.

Click the video to watch the highlights of the match AC MILAN v  FC BARCELONA on Wednesday November 23 2011 for the UEFA Champions League Group Stage in San Siro stadium, Milan, Italy




Click the video to watch the narration from DIRETTA STADIO 7 Gold of the match AC Milan v FC Barcelona on Wednesday 23 November 2011 for the UEFA Champions League Group Stage.





Shaking hands the two top players from each team, AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi






Photo Getty Images

AC Milan midfielder Mark Van Bommel with an own goal.



Photo Reuters

AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic the "ex Barcelona player" celebrating his goal against Barcelona....

Step by step the "beautiful" goal from AC Milan midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng






AC Milan midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng thanking the fans after celebrating his goal.'



Boateng and his particular goal celebration



Photo Getty Images

Referee Stark giving a yellow card to Barcelona forward Lionel Messi after taking a pause in the first attempt o convert the penalty.



Pato substituted Robinho in the second half



AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri with a "sad look" as wondering what went wrong with the tactics..... formation????


UEFA Champions League Group Stage
Group H, Matchday 5
 
AC Milan 2 - 3 FC Barcelona
Wednesday November 23,. 2011
San Siro Stadium
Milan, Italy
20:45

Referee Stark


Attendance: 78.927

Scorers: 14' Van Bommel (own goal) (B.), 20' Ibrahimovic (M), 31'  Lionel Messi (pen) (B.) 54' Boateng (M), 63'  Xavi (B.)

AC MILAN (4-3-1-2): Abbiati; Abate, Nesta (68' Bonera), Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Aquilani, Van Bommel (72' Nocerino), Seedorf; Boateng; Robinho (46' Pato), Ibrahimovic.

Subs not used: (Amelia, Antonini, Ambrosini, Emanuelson).

Coach:  Massimiliano Allegri

FC BARCELONA (3-3-1-3): Valdes; Puyol, Mascherano, Abidal; Xavi, Busquets, Keita; Fabregas (80' Pedro); Messi, Thiago Alcantara (91' Dos Santos), Villa (58' Sanchez).

Subs not used: (Pinto, Piquè, Maxwell, Fontas).

Coach:  Pep Guardiola.

Booked:  Aquilani (M), Nesta (M), Messi (B,) Van Bommel (M), Puyol (B.), Abidal (B.), Mascherano (B.), Zambrotta (M). 

UEFA Champions League Group Stage Group H, Matchday 5   AC Milan 2 - 3 FC Barcelona Wednesday November 23,. 2011 San Siro Stadium Milan, Italy 20:45 Referee Stark
AC Milan	Match Stats	Barcelona
2	Goals	3
13(3)	Shots (on Goal)	16(6)
25	Fouls	18
4	Corner Kicks	3
8	Offsides	2
41%	Ball Possession	59%
4	Yellow Cards	4
0	Red Cards	0
4	Saves	1

What do you think of the results? Which players surprised you or disappointed you and why?


 
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