Champions League: The magic numbers of Barcelona’s amazing win against AC Milan
Barcelona attempted 730 passes, out of which 573 were completed.
- Barca’s win makes them the first team in the Champions League to ever overturn a two-goal first leg deficit without the benefit of an away goal.
- Blaugrana, who enjoyed 65% of possession, created 13 goal-scoring chances and attempted 11 shots, seven of them on target.
- AC Milan had 35% possession and had six shots on goal — three of them on target.
- Barcelona attempted 730 passes, out of which 573 were completed. This is lower than their season average of 829.62 passes. Their season high is an incredible 999 passes.
- AC Milan attempted 387 passes, and completed only 62% of them (238). Their season average is 520.41 passes and their season high is 598.
- In the last three seasons, Lionel Messi has scored 33 goals in 32 appearances in the Champions League.
- Barcelona made 84 delivery/solo runs, out of which 74 were in the attacking third. 62 of these were into
the key areas of Milan.
- Milan made just 29 such runs. Only 10 of these came in the key areas.
- Messi‘s goal, after five minutes, was his second fastest in Champions League history, only his fourth minute strike against Basel in 2008 was quicker.
- AC Milan’s best passer was Philippe Mexes — their centre-back, with an accuracy rate of 73%. Ricardo Montolivo, their centre-midfielder, had an accuracy rate of 64%. He attempted just 47 passes.
- In contrast, Barcelona’s creative epicenters Xavi and Andres Iniesta 213 passes in total. 178 of these were successful. Their best passer was Sergio Busquets, with 87% of his passes finding their intended target.
- Barcelona 4-0 AC Milan. Milan equal their biggest loss in all European competitions, excluding European Super Cup.
- It is the sixth time Barcelona progress to the next round (all European competitions) after a first leg loss by at least two goals.
- AC Milan’s biggest loss in Champions League history: 4-0 at Manchester United in March 2010 and 4-0 at Deportivo La Coruña in April 2004. And now, 4-0 by Barcelona in March 2013.
- Lionel Messi scored Barcelona’s 100th goal in the Champions League knock-out phase. Barca are the first club to reach this benchmark.
- Lionel Messi scores his 16th Champions League brace: a Champions League record. Raúl is second on the all-time list with 14.
