Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Thiago Silva, Nesta
(Bonera 65'), Zambrotta; Van Bommel (Nocerino 72'), Aquilani; Boateng, Seedorf,
Robinho (Pato 46'); Ibrahimovic. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona:
Víctor Valdés; Puyol, Mascherano, Abidal; Thiago
(Jonathan Dos Santos 91'), Busquets, Xavi, Keita; Cesc Fàbregas (Pedro
79'), Messi, David Villa (Alexis Sánchez 73'). 3-4-3.
Goals:
0-1. 13. Van Bommel (own goal). Turned ball in on far
post from Keita cross.
1-1. 20. Ibrahimovic. Ran on to Seedorf pass and
turned shot past Valdés.
1-2. 24. Messi (penalty). After Nesta
pushed over Xavi inside penalty area.
2-2. 54. Boateng. Pulled ball past
Abidal and curled shot inside near post.
2-3. 63. Xavi. Picked up Messi
through ball and struck angled shot past Abbiati.
Barcelona made sure of top spot in their group after a 2-3 win at AC Milan, the only team who had taken points off them in the competition all season. The Catalans went ahead early on when Van Bommel turned Keita's cross past his own keeper under pressure from Xavi, but Seedorf missed the easiest of chances before Ibrahimovic equalised against his old side. Messi hit the bar a couple of minutes later, and two minutes after that the Argentinian forward restored the lead with a twice taken penalty after Aquilani and Nesta pushed over Xavi in the area, his first spot kick ruled out by referee Stark for stopping in the run up. Abbiati made a couple of top class saves from Villa and Messi, and Boateng, Robinho and Silva went close at the other end as the game continued at an electrifying pace. Eight minutes after the restart Boateng lifted the ball past Abidal before curling a shot inside Valdés's near post, but ten minutes later Xavi picked up Messi's through ball to score an impressive winner. An entertaining game, but only one winner in the end.