Yesterday afternoon the Catalan giants carried out their last training session before tonight’s first leg of the second round of the Champions League between A.C Milan and F.C Barcelona. As Barcelona trained and contemplated the scenery of the San Siro stadium while trying to imagine it full of Rossoneri and Cule supporters, they had an unexpected visitor in the shape of ex Barcelona star ‘Gabi’ or Gabriel Milito who came to watch their preparatory training session.
The Argentine, who spent last week in the sports city to meet up with his ex Barca colleagues until recently, was one of the spectators watching the training led by assistant coach Jordi Roura.
In yesterday’s training session there were twenty players, including Xavi Hernandez, who exercised as normal after being given the all clear by the Barca doctors. Xavi could return as a starter in tonight’s clash against the Italian giants in a match that has Barcelona concerned about the poor condition of the San Siro pitch.
Yesterday afternoon’s training session was the last one before the clash tonight where FC Barcelona will wear their yellow and orange away kit and the match comes nearly a year after the last game between the two clubs where Barcelona beat AC Milan in the quarter-finals of last seasons Champions League tournament.
It should be a great first leg and Barcelona have to make the trip to Milan count and score a few goals in order to make the return leg more comfortable. Ex Barcelona player Bojan may get some minutes on the pitch although he’s unlikely to start said that ‘although Barca is the best in the world, the San Siro commands respect.’
Barca will respect this evolving Milan side that is gradually phasing out the older players and replacing them with really young ones.
A few AC Milan players that Barca should watch out for tonight would almost certainly be: Kevin Prince Boateng, Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy. As Bojan pointed out, ‘Milan will be going for a win’ so Barcelona will need to be on their guard and tighten up the defense at the back a little to thwart any attacks by Balotelli and co.
Is a greath tie. But at the end barcer will be the winners,