Can anyone stop Milan?

By Paul Simpson

Since 1980, only one team has won the most prestigious trophy in European club football twice in a row - AC Milan. The Arrigo Sacchi side, led by the flying Dutchmen Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard, were arguably the greatest European club side since Real Madrid CF's immortal lineup of the 1950s. But Carlo Ancelotti's team are beginning to suggest they could, with luck and guile, be even better.

Italian stereotype
It is customary to dismiss Italian football as dour and defensive, a stereotype which last year's UEFA Champions League final only reinforced. But while Milan's progress through the group stage was efficient, rather than spectacular, they have scored at least three goals in each of their last five games - even against opposition of the quality of RC Deportivo La Coruña, Juventus FC (in Turin) and Parma AC.

Kaká contribution
Milan talisman Paolo Maldini says Kaká's unpredictable genius has made the difference. The 21-year-old is a formidable talent, combining Brazilian flair with a work ethic that as tough a judge as Marcello Lippi would approve of. The calibre of his display against Depor was no surprise to anyone who watched him against Parma at the weekend, when he created a goal with a run against the defence which was reminiscent of the great Romário.

Striking strength
But Milan are no one-man team. In Andriy Shevchenko and Jon Dahl Tomasson, they have such a fluent strike pairing you wonder why coach Ancelotti persists in playing Filippo Inzaghi. Two other Brazilians - Cafu and Dida - are performing at the top of the game. And as central defensive partnerships go, you could do worse than Alessandro Nesta and Maldini.

Structural weaknesses
The Rossoneri are not perfect - for all their class, the defence can look exposed against pace, especially if Nesta is injured, and the scoreline against Depor did flatter them slightly. However, Milan have won when it mattered and none of their rivals have been quite as ruthlessly efficient. Arsenal FC have sparkled - though not against Chelsea FC - FC Porto have impressed and then there is Madrid.

Generous guests
What can you say about Madrid that has not already been said? If football matches only consisted of a second half, Carlos Queiroz's men would be all-conquering. But not every side will be as generous as AS Monaco FC at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Beckham contribution
Watching that game, it was hard to ignore David Beckham. His performance against Monaco may not have been headline-grabbing, despite him picking up a late booking, but he was industrious, intelligent and effective, showing the range of passing which Manchester United FC have so glaringly missed this season.

Tantalising prospect
For most neutrals, the prospect of Madrid facing Arsenal in the semi-final is one to savour. And that does, after this week's results, look the likelier outcome. Arsenal's away goal means Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri cannot simply pack the midfield with five, and close down the second leg at Highbury. Mind you, Chelsea's last victory over the Gunners - 17 matches ago - was away from home, the Blues beating Arsenal 5-0 in November 1998 in the English League Cup. History and the away goal are against Chelsea, but they are behind, not out.

Paul Simpson is editor of Champions, the official magazine of the UEFA Champions League. Click here to subscribe now.

The views expressed in this article are of the individual contributor and do not necessarily reflect the views of UEFA.