A.C. Milan, still climbing the Serie A standings, will face favorite Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Milan is surging at the right time after starting the season off horribly and in 15th place. Relegation was a thought for the team, but has picked up momentum, achieved a 10-1-3 mark in their last 14 matches and has climbed up to third in their league, although 11 points behind leader Juventus.
"We're doing well at the moment," midfielder Riccardo Montolivo said. "I've grown and the team has grown compared to beginning of season, and the match comes at the best time. We know we're facing the best team in world, with the best players in the world. We know it's going to be tough but we can't wait to get on the pitch because it will be a great match and a great test for us to measure ourselves against them."
A.C. Milan underwent a fire sale at the end of last season to balance their checkbooks. They lost star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic (who now plays for Paris-St. Germain) and defender Thiago Silva in their cost-cutting mission. Milan is a young, hungry team who is focused on the future.
The future is now as Milan takes on a Barcelona team who has only lost twice all season in both La Liga, where they have a comfortable double digit point lead, and Europe. They have been the favorites to win the Champions League from the start but don't tell that to Barcelona assistant Jordi Roura, who is leading the team while manager Tito Vilanova undergoes cancer treatment.
"I don't think we are favorites," said Roura. "We have a lot of respect for Milan who have the most titles compared to anyone else."
"When the top teams meet in the knock-out phase, there are no favorites."
AC Milan knows the mountain they have to climb when facing arguably the best team in the world but Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri knows his team will not just roll over for the team.
"We are facing the best team in the world but I do not accept that everyone has been making us out to be the sacrificial lamb," said Allegri to BBC Sport.
Milan may hinge those hopes on scorer Stephan El Shaarawy. He suffered a knee injury in their last match and depending how he practices with the team, he may start.
"El Shaarawy is back in the group, training," Allegri said. "I'll decide after practice what's the best formation to start with. If he's fine, he'll start."
Milan will play the possession game in order to compete with Barcelona but Messi is on Barcelona. They have the major edge in this match.
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