Marquez Returns at the Meazza

If you live in the Southwestern United States, that breeze you felt today was the huge sigh of relief emanating from the Coach’s hotel room Acapulco as Rafael Marquez returned for the full 90 minutes in Barça’s 1-0 road win tonight vs. Milan. Rafa spent the most of the night on the back line, and except for one slip by Shevchenko, had a solid night. When you don’t see Shevchenko that much on the coverage, then Rafa had a good night.

It would be great for Rafa’s sake that Barcelona goes through to the final. He’ll have the best high pressure game in the world outside the world cup to use a dress rehearsal. Rafa would have great momentum, and hopefully they won’t make him travel to Mexico before the team heads to Europe. He’s had a month off to recoup from his season’s worth of nicks, so he may be peaking at the right time come June. Let’s hope he has been strengthening his back as well because Mexico will go as far as he will carry them.