THE BRAGGING RIGHTS AT CAMP NOU......WRITTEN BY ABAYOMI ADEMETAN

Barcelona tonight (8.45pm) at Camp Nou will be looking forward to make history again when they attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit inflicted on them by AC Milan at San-Siro last month in the knock-out phase of the UEFA Champions League.


The Catalans faces the prospect of being knocked out by 7-time winners AC Milan tonight.
In the past four years, Barcelona have been a great force, with their crisp gamea,winning the title on two occasions and being dispatched only by heroic defensive blocks from Inter Milan and Chelsea respectively.
The once invisible La Liga leaders were beaten in the first leg at the San Siro and unlike their 3-1 loss in 2010 they failed to get an away goal.This thrend has made pundits believe they have 10% chance of progressing.

The key players of the Camp Nou side reacted in the media, promising better next time around. Lionel Messi,was found wanting in the San Siro and forced further and further back to look for the ball, said the team had full confidence in itself, while Andres Iniesta was willing to "put my hand in the fire that we will get through the round."

Playmaker Xavi Hernandez is fit after a hamstring problem,with Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta completing a three-man midfield.

Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba return in defence while Messi, Pedro Rodriguez and Alexis Sanchez should take their place in attack.

AC Milan travel striker Pazzini, was hurt at the weekend playing against Genoa.This will please fans of the home side, taking away a player who was a phobia in the first leg.Mario Balotelli is cup-tied,having played for Manchester City in the previous rounds.Philippe Mexes is doubtful for this cracker.

The two gaffers had some things to say about the tantalising battle that will be going on tonight.

Barcelona
Jordi Roura, assistant coachThe perfect match will be the one that ends well and takes us to the quarter-finals. We have to find the right balance between intensity, strength and haste. This match will last 90 minutes so we have to keep our heads and keep our cool, not lose control of the match.

We have all seen lots of games similar to this situation but every match has its own peculiarities. In the end we have to focus on how we play, but perhaps we have analysed the first leg against Milan more than any other match. Tomorrow is very important, not just for me, but for the club, the fans and the team as a whole.

Milan didn't surprise me. I know that playing away to Milan is always tough. I don't know how they'll play [tomorrow] but I imagine they will sit back on their 2-0 lead. We had a long week to work [after the first leg] and the team have responded well.

AC Milan
Massimiliano Allegri, coach
Everyone knows how important the match is tomorrow. However, the process of building a team that started in August will not stop if we lose to the greatest team in the world. This team has young players with no international experience, so we need confidence and serenity tomorrow. Barcelona always force their opponents to play the same way because of their ball possession. If we can keep Barcelona away from our box, then we have a better chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals. 

I expect Barcelona to put us under a lot of pressure from the word go. They are very capable of turning the tie around. They create lots of chances to score, so you have to be good on the ball and determined when you are defending. We may have few chances to score but they are likely to leave gaps in their defence. When you face Barcelona you're never calm.

I think they will try and score an early goal, but we have to keep calm. I am lucky because I joined Milan and was able to manage great players, and this season I am just as enthusiastic managing a completely new team. I have to be patient to help them grow as players because they're young. Going through difficult times is part of the process. I am happy to be here and take charge of such an important match.

Likely Line-Up (Barcelona)

Valdes; Alves, Pique, Puyol, Alba; Busquests; Iniesta ,Xavi; Sánchez, Messi , Pedro.

Likely Line-Up(AC Milan)

Abbiati; Abate, Zapata, Mexès ,Constant; Ambrosini, Montolivo, Muntari; Niang, Kevin-Prince Boateng , El Shaarawy.

Expert Edge;The world stand on it feet ready for the Soldiers to light-up the jungle.It will be a nervy one for the club faithfuls and a festive one for the neutrals.I fancy the Catalans to win this.But the question on pundits mind is,who qualifies?Barcelona or Milan.I fancy the Camp Nou followers to smile tonight.