Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Mexes, Zapata, Constant;
Montolivo, Ambrosini, Muntari; Kevin-Prince Boateng, Pazzini (Niang 74'), El
Shaarawy (Traoré 87'). 4-3-3.
Barcelona:
Víctor Valdés; Dani Alves, Piqué, Puyol
(Mascherano 86'), Jordi Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Fàbregas (Alexis 61');
Pedro, Messi, Iniesta. 4-3-3.
Goals:
1-0. 56. Boateng. Drilled shot past Valdés
after Montolivo shot deflected to him.
2-0. 81. Muntari. Struck volley past
keeper after El Sharaawy lobbed ball across.
Champions League favourites Barcelona are close to being knocked out of the competition after losing 2-0 at AC Milan! A disciplined defence closed the door to Messi and company, and local keeper Abbiati hardly had a real save to make throughout the ninety minutes. Only an early Piqué header went anywhere near the Milan goal in the first half, and Puyol had to be at his most decisive to prevent El Shaarawy from opening the scoring midway through the first half. The Italians took the lead though ten minutes after the break, Montolivo's shot hitting Jordi Alba and appearing to deflect off Zapata's upraised arm before falling kindly for Boateng to beat Valdés. Messi and Xavi fired free kicks over the bar and Iniesta drove a long shot just wide of the post, but otherwise the Catalans were lacking their usual flair, and with ten minutes to go Muntari latched on to El Shaarawy's lifted pass to volley a shot past the keeper. Probably Barça's worst performance in a long time, and nothing short of an epic night in the Nou Camp can turn things around.