@varun: you are saying that the game wasnt more demanding back in the 80′s or 90′s because a team dint have to play 60 matches. Well did you keep in mind the pitch conditions back then? Did the players of that era have ergonomically designed comfortable boots? Neither did they have strict refs who will blow the whistle at the weakest of challenges. Back then players had to be tough physically and technically. Thus, making the game more demanding. And if winning the UCL was so easy back then, why didnt Barca manage to grab a few?

Now a “Barca team that has no equal in football history” plays in La Liga where the only team that comes between them and the title is Real Madrid. While Milan had to face 4-5 challengers in 89-90 for the serie a title.

Lionel Messi. Finds it hard to score against the current Milan defence unless assisted by penalties. So I dont think Baresi and Maldini would have any problem in containing him.

In the end, from a football fan’s point of view. I personally dont enjoy the game that the current Barca squad plays. It seems like they are here to frustrate the opponent and are trying to make them commit mistakes and then utilise the gaps that have been created. Whereas the 89-90 Milan squad created the gaps and chances by themselves. Their style of football was more entertaining.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jonathan_wilson/04/18/2011barca.acmilan90s/index.html

I absolutely disagree with this last point,

> Finally, back in the early 90s, the game in itself was very physical and demanded a lot of strength and stamina to work through the entire 90 minutes. Today’s game is dependent more on technical aspects of the game.

Serie A had 30 Games season till 88′ then a 34 game one and on top a team only had to play 6 games to win the European Cup.

40 Games plus around 7 for Domestic Cup (that Milan had in 90′ reaching the Final)

47 Games in that era.
And you call that more physical and demanding?

Barca have been playing a 60 Game season Year on Year excluding NT commitments.

Plus modern players average out at around 10-11 Kms per match with highest reaching around 12-13.
This figure was half 30 years back and it most certainly wasn’t 11 Kms per match (considering the development of science, balls, pitches, 1 ball use and a lot of other factors.)

Refine this line of argument.

And Milan wasn’t the team in late 80′s who conceded the least, If those other players can take on their back line i am certain Messi can as well.

This line,
> has never come across a man marker quite like Franco Baresi

works both ways, Baresi never came across a player like Messi in his prime as well.

He played against Maradona and records show he did concede goals against him, so the hyperbole of “never faced Baresi” is not that daunting for Messi.

What i would like to see are the Shots(off and on target) plus possession stats for teams (esp Milan) from that era.

If its anywhere around normal than there is no way Milan could win.

Its simple mathematics, you don’t get 20 chances with 25% possession, and you certainly won’t be having 100% accuracy.

Let alone Barca, even a team like Madrid, Bayern or Man Utd team of 3 years back could beat Milan.

Milan constantly used have Defeat/Draw in 30-40% of their matches in Serie A (check the records).
Having a strong league is no excuse, they couldn’t win properly at home and in Europe with less hectic schedule and here they are being held as Barca’s equal.

If this logic is used then teams such as Sampdoria, Verona, Napoli and esp. Inter and Juventus from that time are better than Barca as well.
Which is a load of bull.

This Barca team has no equal in football’s history, only time will break people’s delusion of believing otherwise.