A cracking match at Barca’s Camp Nou, featured a sensational start with Alex Pato 24 seconds in opening the scoring for visitors AC Milan. The 22-year-old Brazilian Pato raced clear of a static Barcelona back four, and slid the ball beyond keeper Víctor Valdés giving the Italian champions the earliest of leads.

(The fastest goal ever in the Champions League is still the name of Roy Makaay, Bayern Munich in 2006 on behalf of 10.03 seconds after the goal against Real Madrid struck.)

Pato was the most dangerous man for Milan on the counter as Mark Van Bommel and Clarence Seedorf continued to battle away tirelessly against their hosts in the midfield. Barcelona expected a dominance of possession (70%),  as many gave majority possession to the tight Italian defensive played little chance.  And our next goal came by the contribution of Barcelona playmaker Lionel Messi, at the expense of  Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

Messi somehow retrieved the ball as Abate dallied poorly on the edge of the box. The Argentine would then square the ball precisely to teammate Pedro for the easy tap home, Barcelona back on track with all even at 1-1.

Second Half

After the break the individual class for an earlier lax Barcelona seemed to clinch matters with David Villa scoring a wonderful goal five minutes from the restart. The scene, Villa and Xavi both standing over a free kick, with Villa eventually stepping up to take a thunder-strike into the corner netting as Camp Nou goes mad.

However final moments saw the dominance of Barcelona fail to grab all three points thanks in part to Milan’s Thiago Silva scoring off a corner kick from Seedorf.  Watch the video below for the visual.

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Barcelona-Milan from minute to minute.

92. 2-2. AC Milan. Thiago Silva turns a corner with his head pretty equal.

90. Three minutes injury time at Camp Nou.

90. Barca will not get penalty after Ambrosini tackle on Pedro.

83. Villa replaces Ibrahim Afellay. The Utrecht gets his first minutes of the season.

79. As spectacular as the cracker on the first night of the new Champions League season began, so poor and weak risk Barca and AC Milan exit. After the goal by Villa’s absolutely nothing more happened at Camp Nou.

77. Afellay is running hot, while Van Bommel is changed to AC Milan. The Limburger is replaced by Alberto Aquilani.

69. Dani Alves will yellow after fierce tackle on foot from Emanuelson. Alves should therefore not complain.

67. Keita goes to the side, in favor of Puyol, who played his last game as a substitute at Wembley against ManUnited. He immediately gets the captain’s armband back to the arm.

62. Emanuelson makes his debut for AC Milan. He replaces the invisible Cassano.

60. It is one way at Camp Nou. Milan will not come out and condemned by Barcelona to defend.

58. Free kick from Messi shoots the ball through the wall to corner.

57. Nesta yellow after holding Messi.

52. Yellow house after a duel with Nocerino.

50. David Villa gives Barca the lead from a superb free kick.

48. Xavi fired pretty bright, but stylish ball is parried by Milan goalie Abbiati.

46. Second half resumes.

Rest in Camp Nou.
45 2. Flashing bright Xavi just wide.

45. Two extra minutes.

39. Andres Iniesta drop out with apparent abdominal cramps. He is replaced by Cesc Fabregas.

36. FC Barcelona 1-1. Messi solo by Milan defense and serves almost from the goal line Pedro.

34. Kevin-Prince Boateng is exchanged for Massimo Ambrosini.

31. Abbiati saves on Messi shot after the keeper lost the ball ushered in with a bad set pieces.

30. Messi shoot from awkward angles on outstretched hand Abbiati. Increasing pressure from Barca. Milan defended with seven, eight players ROP edge of sixteen.

27. Half fuss Villa, after cross from Dani Alves, is gauge on Milan goal.

24. Barcelona has a hard compact AC Milan game.

19. From Messi free-kick hit the post. AC Milan escaped.

18. Yellow Van Bommel after comments on Atkinson, who quite rightly for a flute of overdreding Nesta on Messi.

17. Another quick counter with Pato in the lead. The Brazilian serves Boateng, but a afzwaaier produces.

14. Messi shot into corner is processed by Abbiati.

12. David Villa hit the side netting after beaten the second corner of Barcelona.

10. It has a small lasted ten minutes, but Barca is gradually from the shock. Siege of Christian Abbiati’s goal seems begun.

1. 0-1. AC Milan. A bizarre start at Camp Nou. Pato scored after just 24 seconds for the Italians. Camp Nou was stunned. Roy Makaay will record in the books.

1. Referee Martin Atkinson has AC Milan have kicked off.

Other Champions League News

In the match between Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal (1-1) Robin van Persie was important. The Dutch international opened the scoring just before half on the advice of Theo Walcott after the attack he had established. Ivan Perisic was similar in the final phase.

The debut of coach Mario Been with Racing Genk in the Champions League at home against a strong Valencia was given a good point (0-0).  The other group game between Chelsea and Leverkusen ended 2-0 thanks to scores from Juan Mata and David Luiz.

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