That was Fun at the Nou Camp

Definitely felt like the better team won tonight.  I expended a ton of energy rooting on Barca.  I don't think I've done that for any team in years.  Here are a few thoughts in no particular order.

• The opening goal was insane.  How much space did he have to get that shot off?  Inches.  That goal settled down Barca and took the cushion away immediately.  I think everyone started believing after that.  Milan never got a chance to apply pressure until they were down 3-0.  They didn't see the ball for the first 10 minutes.

• Couldn't believe the no call on Pedro.  I know the ref probably hated to call it, but that was a clear PK.  That's two clear PK's in the last 10 days missed on Barca that were dead easy to call. If it happened to Man U or Real they would be screaming bloody murder.

• I talked about needing a bit of luck.  Good goal keeping by Valdes to make Niang work for it, but he needs to score there.  That was a little luck for Barca that they deserved.  See no hand ball call in leg one.  See Pedro misses a sitter against Real in the Copa.  See Messi misses a chip against Sociedad...the list goes on and on. 

• Game one Milan looked hungrier for the ball.  This game Xavi and Inesta were hungrier than everyone on the pitch.  Milan was missing players, but Barca just wanted that ball way more.

• Inesta playing as a midfielder, as I stated, was crucial and made a huge difference.  He created chance after chance winning the ball back and creating mini counter attacks.

• Milan defend like mad.  They are great at it.  Gives the result even more quality.  Barca shot the windows out of the bus though.

• Saw a stat on the Locker room about Messi's conversion rate on shots being like 35%.  When he made that second goal it's all I could think about.  We he swings that foot 1/3 of the time it's going in.  It's insane if you think about it considering how hard it is to score a soccer goal.

• Again how little space did he have to get that second goal?  Less than inches that time.  After that anyone who wants to say anything about him scoring goals against Italian sides can kiss my big f....you get the picture.

• Alves barely got the ball deep at the San Siro.  I lost track in tonight's match how many times he touched the ball on the flank deep.  Villa being on the pitch helped that.  Funny that the Fox color guy was all over him for bad crosses.  It was more like great defending by Milan forcing him to be inch perfect or go the long way with some of them.

• Favorite comment of the night was Alves has been off form?  Really?  I guess he has only watched a few Barca matches this year.

• Villa didn't have his greatest match, but when the ball was at his feet in a dangerous position he scored.  That's the difference between him playing upfront and Inesta/Cesc.  He's a natural goal scorer.  You have to respect him.  This helps Messi.  Playing a striker upfront was key to victory today for me.

• Kudos to having the same midfield and strike team as the 2011 UCL final.  Really just the few changes at the back.  

• When it was 3-0 I knew that it was going to be a long way to the end, but I felt vindicated for Barca against all the pundits that were so down on them.  15 trophies out of 20 going into this season.  The liga in the bag, but everyone ran scared because they lost to the second best team in the world.  (Also they go jibbed in the second match out of a draw, but who cares other than Jose Mo.)

• The color guy for Fox Soccer was so bias against Barca that I couldn't figure out if certain players were really playing as bad as he said?  How many good shots did Milan really get on goal?  He never made a comment about how wasteful Milan were at times.

• Scary to think how good Milan will be next year with a few key pieces and Balotelli in the UCL.  I think if I'm Milan the only thing that bothers me outside of the Niang miss is that they let Messi beat them.  I don't think Pedro had a goal in him tonight.  Villa didn't have a hat trick in him.  They needed to sell out more against Messi, but that's being hypercritical.  

• There were a ton of scary moments, but I didn't get worried until late on where a goal would be impossible to come back from.  I thought Messi might put away that free kick and end the drama.  He has been so good on his free kicks this year.  

• I couldn't figure out if Alexis was having a good match or not.  Then he puts the great cross together and I start to think he is.  It's like Modric.  He's suddenly great after his goal and play against Man U 10 V 11.  Then he goes out against Celta and is back to his former self.

• I was glad to hear Wynalda and Barton say that Barca are now the favorite.  I felt the performance warranted it.  The perception changed in that game.  They got four against a team that defended them very well.  Bayern can't defend Barca like that.  They can trouble them in the midfield, but they can't close the space down like Milan did.

• You have to feel good for David Villa.  His injury hurt last year, but so did the slow recovery, the lack of 1st team starts, the kidney issue, the transfer talk, and just all the BS around him. It was good to see him get a big moment.  He's had a career of scoring big goals.  That one was a big winner.    

• Pedro worked hard.  It was silly of him to get a card.  I don't think he was ever very dangerous.  Thankfully we didn't get too many Pedro holding his head in disbelief moments.  I value what he does, but he needs to be more dangerous.

• Puyol was getting ripped by this color guy.  I don't know if he was really playing bad.  Against Real in the Copa he looked bad, but he was Barca's man of the match in the first leg.

• Milan through the kitchens sink against Barca the last 20 or so.  Messi dug in and defended and pestered.  Have you ever seen a certain number 7 do that?  He did look tired by the end, but he played the perfect ball to Alexis that setup the winner.  

• It was a physical game.  Only really the push on Pedro no call bothered me.  Milan was picking up some many yellows that you had to wonder if they were going to have a team for the next leg.  

• Xavi was healthy and if he wasn't then he's just amazing.  He looked totally different than the last two matches he played.  He looks so much better when he's passing to Inesta.  

• I really don't care who we play in the next round.  How about Juvie, then Bayern and then Real in the final.  Why not earn it?  Some would say that's hard, but it's also hard for anyone coming at us.  It's the hard that makes it great.

• Love to see PSG vs. Real.  The two most vain teams in soccer battle it out in two of Europes biggest Cities.  Then Gala Vs. Real.  I will root against them in all cases, but in the end I would love to see Messi deny Jose Mo in his final game with Real of meaning.  

• The away goals rule needs to change.  If it's tied it's tied.  Go to extra time and PK's.  It just makes for silly strategies that take away from the game.  Milan would have pressed earlier if the rule didn't exist.  

• How loud was the Nou Camp at the end of the match.  It was incredible.  That's passion.  You can't buy that or make it up.

This has been the best UCL I've ever watched.  The match ups keep coming.  The next round will surely be even better.  Who won't be tuning in to that draw.  Would it freak anyone out if Arsenal suddenly up ended Bayern tomorrow?  (Let's hope not)

My closing thought is simply this.  Last week everyone craved the big match up between Real and Man U.  It was a great contest and edge of your seat stuff for 60 odd minutes and then the game was ruined.  Tonight's game was edge of your seat down to the bitter end.  It was what we wanted last week to be.  Fitting to say the least.

Press on.  What a day for soccer.