“We certainly could’ve drawn worse,” AC Milan club director Umberto Gandini mused after learning that his side had been paired off with La Liga’s Atletico Madrid in the round of 16. The Rossoneri, who had finished second in their group could have faced off against the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester United, or Chelsea as their opponents.
So, in light of the terrorizing prospect of dealing with last year’s Champions League winners or a Los Blancos spearheaded by the rampaging Cristiano Ronaldo, who set a new tournament record with nine strikes in just five appearances, then, yes, one could say, theoretically that the “other” Madrid club isn’t the “worst” draw they could’ve gotten.
Still, with both Juventus and Napoli consigned to the Europa League, both sides that even the most ardent Rossoneri supporter would have to admit are a long stronger than their side, the pressure is on for a side that’s currently barely in the top half of the table to put on a good show for the sake of not just the country’s footballing pride but also restore some of their own prestige, which has taken a hit in recent years.
A tale of two cities: one club struggles as another flourishes
Below, Atletico’s record in the league vs. Milan’s. Los Rojiblancos are certainly enjoying a more auspicious start to their domestic campaign than the Rossoneri. (Information as of 19. December 2013)
Keeping pace with the “big boys”...
...and floundering in mid-table obscurity:
A painful rebuilding period for one...
Milan are second only to Real Madrid in terms of continental titles won, with seven so far to their name but long gone are the days when they were considered among one of Europe’s elite clubs. Last season, they were fortunate to sneak into the last Champions League spot at the cost of Fiorentina but due to their dismal performances so far this season in league play are highly unlikely to be gracing the continental stage next year.
Even their most devoted fans have recognized that this is a time of a painful time of rebuilding and restructuring, but for many, last year following the departure of a slew of key players was supposed to be their “year zero”, so their failure to ignite this season and build on that progress is a source of great frustration and disappointment.
Oftentimes though, a club’s failure to succeed on their home front isn’t necessarily an indication of their performance in continental affairs. Just look at the case of Chelsea, who surprised the football world when they won their first Champions League title back in the 2011-2012 season. The Blues ended up finishing the season in sixth place, the lowest since the 2001-2002 but made some big amends with their fan base by winning European football’s biggest trophy and their seventh FA Cup.
Now, it’s highly unlikely that Milan will be able to pull off the same feat, but in the same vein,no one expected the London club to get past Barcelona, especially at Camp Nou when they were forced to play with a man down for nearly an hour after John Terry was sent off en route to the finals with Bayern Munich.
...whilst another aspires to make a name for themselves on the big stage
In Atletico, the Diavolo have an opponent that has been enjoyed success in the Europa League with two titles to their name but certainly are looking to assert themselves as a serious contender in the “big brother” of Europe’s second-tier competition, especially after a five-year long hiatus. They’ve also announced their intent to be able to keep up with the big two in La Liga, and are currently still keeping pace with Barcelona at the top of the league, five points ahead of Real Madrid, with their leading marksman, Diego Costa also neck-to-neck with Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the continent’s scoring charts.
So, who will emerge victorious? An old veteran or a relative rookie to Europe's premier competition? As it stands now, Atletico clearly, on paper, have the advantage, but one thing any football fan has gotten used to is expecting the unexpected. Milan is a side that manages somehow to find themselves out of thorny situations--just look at their revival last season--but it remains to be seen whether they'll be able to pull off another great escape against a hungry and determined Spanish side come February.
