Champions League Comment: Maicon Proves To Dani Alves That He Is The No.1 Right-Back In The World

Much of the attention of Inter’s Champions League semi-final first leg showdown against Barcelona was focused on the genius of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Jose Mourinho, as well as the reunions of Samuel Eto’o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

But quietly in the background, there was also a duel between two of the world’s best attacking right-backs: Maicon and Dani Alves.

There has been growing debate as to who between the pair is the better player and questions have been raised as to who deserves to be first choice in the Brazilian national team. Maicon has been given main preference under Dunga but those who have been wowed by Dani Alves’ swashbuckling performances first for Sevilla and now for Barcelona were always left bemused as to why he wasn’t the Selecao’s primary option. Tuesday night’s clash may have just given us the answer.

While Maicon had a woeful start to the game against Barcelona, when he strangely decided to abandon tracking Maxwell’s darting run down his flank which resulted in the opening goal to Barca, he responded in the remainder of the contest with a solid defensive showing and a disciplined attacking display; going forward only when absolutely necessary and only when he knew his flank would not be compromised.

Dani Alves, on the other hand, made a decent start, invading Inter’s half right from the opening whistle and didn’t look too troubled at the back as the Italians made no purposeful forays forward. But that was part of the key to Mourinho’s game plan all along.

Inter knew how explosive Alves is with his searing pace and stamina and had they attacked with the ball down their left-flank, the likes of Goran Pandev, Wesley Sneijder and the over-lapping Javier Zanetti would never have the legs to outpace the Brazilian. Instead, the Nerazzurri launched almost every attack along their right wing – along Maxwell’s flank – while all the off-the-ball movements were made down the opposite channel. And as a result, Dani’s poor positional play, his lack of judgment and anticipation, and his bad reading of the game was exposed.

Maicon shows how effective and productive he is

For the remainder of the match at the San Siro, the marauding Barca right-back was also neutralised in attack. With Messi completely shut out by Javier Zanetti, Wesley Sneijder and Esteban Cambiasso, Alves had no one to create havoc with and he was always caught either wandering in no man’s land or robbed off the ball quite easily. Whenever he did get into a workable position, his crosses into the area were dismal and his only notable contribution to the Blaugrana cause was a burst into the Inter box before being controversially and clumsily – depending on where you stand – taken down by Sneijder.

Maicon’s time spent in Italian football has made him a more balanced full-back and it has given him the tactical and defensive edge over Alves, who it seems only has one obligation when playing in La Liga, and that is to attack for 90 minutes and intermittently drop back to help defend.

It is worth noting that Maicon has had a dip in form this season while Dani has remained relentlessly consistent, bar for the occasional one or two bad games. But it’s in these rare off-days that Alves’ main weaknesses are uncovered for all to see.

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