FCBARCELONA.CAT

24.09.2007 11:44

The Milito brothers go head to head

Sandra Sarmiento

This Wednesday, Gabi and Diego Milito will meet on opposite sides when Barça take on Zaragoza in the Camp Nou. This will be the first time they have played against each other since the 2002-03 season.

Diego and Gabi Milito had to wait 15 tears to see their dream of playing together in the same team come true. In Argentina, Diego (the older of the two brothers) made his debut with Racing de Avellaneda in 1999 while Gabi did so at the age of 17 but with fierce rivals Independiente. Any match between these two teams is one of the classic rivalries of Argentine football and the Milito brothers were involved in some passionately disputed encounters. Independiente’s 4-1 win in the 2002-03 season was especially hot-tempered.

Together in Zaragoza

In the summer of 2005, Zaragoza pulled off a transfer coup by bringing the two bothers together in the same team, where they stayed for two successful seasons. Gabi led the defence while Diego scored the goals – he scored no fewer than 23 last season

Starring roles

The matches between Barça and Zaragoza during the last two seasons have had everything – emotion, spectacle, goals and players sent off. And the two Milito brothers have consistently played a major role. Last season, Gabi scored Zaragoza’s only goal in the Camp Nou while Diego while Diego scored in the Romareda.

In the Camp Nou clash in the 2005-06 season, Gabi and Diego put Zaragoza two goals ahead with one apiece. However, Ronaldinho, from the penalty spot, and Samuel Eto'o rescued a point.