0′ – We’re underway at Camp Nou in Barcelona. The home side is in their colorful red and blues, while Milan is toting their road whites.
1′ – Goal Milan! Pato got the ball from midfield, dribbled straight through Barça’s unprepared defense, who didn’t even attempt a challenge, and went 1 on 1 with the goalie. Only 23 seconds in! One of the fastest goals in recent history. 1-0 Milan
6′ – Barcelona gets into their passing game. Crisp passes at the midfield with slow surges forward, then falling back to midfield to keep passing. Milan’s objective is clear: defend and counter.
12′ – Messi faces off against Milan defender Thiago Silva in the box, resulting in a corner. The resulting corner landed to David Villa just 6 yards away, but he shot it straight into the side netting.
19′ – Milan defender Nesta draws a yellow card after yanking Messi down as the Argentine was in the middle of a spectacular run down the center of the pitch, just outside the box. The free kick was taken by Messi and his bending laser nailed the post and ricocheted out for a goal kick. So close, but nothing yet for Barcelona.
30′ – Messi is free inside the box, and after a high intensity moment of cat-and-mouse, Messi’s flick with the left foot is saved by the Milan keeper.
32′ – Another chance for Leo Messi inside the box, on the opposite side this time with the same foot. His shot was low and easily saved to preserve Milan’s 1-0 lead.
36′ – Goal Barcelona! Messi kept up the pressure, and for the third time in five minutes found himself with the ball in the Milan box. He beat two defenders and drew the goalie out, then put a perfect pass in front of the goal for Pedro to tap it. Simple as that, and the Blaugrana drew level. Barcelona 1, Milan 1.
39′ – Iniesta appears injured, grasping his hamstring similar to the injury that sniped Alexis on Saturday. Cesc Fábregas comes on in replacement for Iniesta.
44′ – Daniel Alves plays a brilliant ball right in front of the keeper to Messi who made a quick cut towards the net, but the side official ruled Messi offside by a very small margin.
45′ – Barcelona with possession, Milan defending with quick counter. Same script for every possession here in the first half.
45+3′ – A lapse in the Milan defense leaves Xavi open for a shot, but his right footed rifle shot goes sailing over the cross bar.
Halftime: Barcelona 1, Milan 1 — The whistle blows to end an exciting first half. AC Milan shocked Barcelona with a goal less than 30 seconds into the match. And for a spell, Barça looked genuinely rattled. But as Milan dropped 10 men behind the ball to defend, Barça steadily put its stamp on the match.
46′ – The second half is underway at Camp Nou. Barcelona starts with possession, fittingly.
48′ – A long, beautiful strike from Xavi just outside the box forces the Milan keeper to lay out for a difficult save. The deflection goes out for a corner.
50′ – Goal Barcelona! The corner from Xavi’s shot came in to David Villa, who was fouled and received a free kick from just outside the box. Villa’s kick bent over the wall and hooked left and away from the keeper into the net to give Barça its first lead of the match. Barcelona 2-1
51′ – Messi creates mayhem in the box, Villa booked for a hard foul on Pato.
67′ – Carles Puyol comes on for the first time this season for Seydou Keita. Xavi Hernandez gives up the Captain’s Armband to the eldest member of the club, who is returning from a long-recovering injury.
70′ – Alves booked for a yellow with a terrible challenge on Emanuelson. Lucky it wasn’t a red.
73′ – Finally a buildup from Milan. Abate earns a corner, and sends the corner in where Seerdorf gets a head on it but it didn’t have any velocity. Easy save for Valdes.
84′ – Ibrahim Afellay replaces David Villa for Barcelona.
86′ – Messi shoots and his shot is saved by the keeper’s left leg and then snatched up for a clearance.
90′ – 3 minutes of added time here, Barcelona looking to close this match up as Milan pushes for an equalizer.
90’+3 – Goal Milan! On the brink of losing, at the last utter chance, Milan strikes! Thiago Silva rises at the death for Milan and heads a last gasp header past the outstretched arms of Valdes to bring the score level just before the final whistle blows! Incredible. Camp Nou is dreadfully silent. Barcelona 2, Milan 2.
90’+4 – Final whistle at Camp Nou, an incredible match dominated mostly by Barcelona but starting and finishing with Milan goals gave the Italian champions a draw at the home of the European champions. Lionel Messi played brilliantly as usual and was Barcelona’s best player, especially in the second half. David Villa scored a genius goal from a free kick, and it seemed destined to be the match-winner. But Milan must get some credit for resolute defending and a strong enough team spirit to keep fighting until the very end.
Final score: Barcelona 2, AC Milan 2
Disciple of Messi 