The referee blows his final whistle, AC Milan 0-0 Barcelona
92 min: Xavi sends a low shot from the edge of the area but it goes wide.
90 min: The referee adds three minutes of injury time.
88 min: Barcelona almost break the deadlock!! Messi's low shot is palmed by Abbiati into the path of Tello, whose attempt to tuck away the rebound is thwarted by Antonini.
85 min: With five minutes remaining, the match seems as though it is heading for a draw.
82 min: Tello is posing a constant threat to Milan's defence. Milan full-back Luca Antonini is struggling to keep him at bay.
78 min: Another chance for Barcelona!! Puyol's diving header goes just wide.
77 min: Ambrosini makes a superb tackle to deflect a goal-bound shot from Messi.
76 min: Barcelona winger Pedro replaces Chile's Alexis Sanchez.
75 min: Unlucky Milan are forced to make a third substitution after centre back Nesta picked up an injury. Algerian full-back Djamel Mesbah is introduced.
73 min: Tello squanders a goal-scoring chance for Barcelona! he controls a pass from Xavi on the left hand side of the area, eludes his marker but his shot from a tight angle hits the side netting.
67 min: A poor ball control by Emanuelson, immediately after his introduction, denies Milan a clear-cut chance.
67 min: Second substitution for Milan, Emanuelson replaces Kevin-Prince Boateng.
66 min: Both sides ease off in the second half, but Barcelona still dominate possession.
65 min: The first substitution for Barcelona. Iniesta is replaced by Tello.
61 min: Barcelona's Mali midfielder Keita receives a yellow card after bringing down Ambrosini in the centre of midfield.
59 min: A curling free-kick by Messi from 27 metres goes over the crossbar.
57 min: Nocerino squanders a chance to put Milan ahead against the run of play. He runs onto a through pass but dithers on the ball to allow Carles Puyol to foil his attempt.
52 min: Milan make their first substitution, Brazilian forward Robinho, who seems injured, is replaced by Stephan El Shaarawy, an Egyptian-Italian attacking midfielder.
47 min: Barcelona continue from where they left off, Iniesta sending a powerful low shot from the edge of the area that narrowly misses the target.
The second half is underway
The referee blows his halftime whistle, AC Milan 0-0 Barcelona.
43 min: AC Milan's defence remains solid. However, the work of Iniesta, Xavi and Messi is keeping them on their toes.
40 min: The question is: For how long can Milan withstand the relentless pressure of Barcelona?
38 min: Milan are trying to hit Barcelona on the break. A counter-attack ends with Seedorf sending a volley that bounced off the ground and went into the hands of Valdes.
35 min: Nesta makes another great interception to thwart a close-range attempt from the pacey Alexis.
31 min: A shot by the unmarked Xavi is blocked by Milan centre-back Nesta. Barcelona are seemingly closing in on the opener.
28 min: Barcelona are laying siege to Milan's area with their trademark intricate passing game.
26 min: Barca go close again!! A neat one two between Messi and Xavi releases the latter, whose low shot is thwarted by Abbiatti.
23 min: Clarence Seedorf receives a yellow card for a clumsy tackle on Barcelona's Xavi.
20 min: What a miss by Ibrahimovic! He ghosts behind Barcelona's defence to latch onto a deft pass from Clarence Seedorf but keeper Victor Valdes rushes out to block his low shot.
17 min: Messi finds the net!! But his close-range effort is correctly ruled out for offside.
16 min: The referee waves away a penalty claim from Alexis, who broke clear after a smart free-kick manoeuvre. Television replays are inconclusive over whether Abbiati tripped him.
12 min: Lionel Messi is causing constant menace to Milan's backline with his trademark surging runs.
8 min:. Another chance for Barcelona! Milan keeper Abiatti fails to handle a low shot from Xavi from inside the area but Keita fails to capitalise on the rebound.
6 min: Lionel Messi's mis-hit free kick finds the unmarked Keita, who misses the target from close range. Barca are gradually finding their rhythm.
6 min: Barca reply!! they are unlucky not to go ahead.
4 min: A shot by Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng is blocked by the defence. Zlatan Ibrahimovic then heads the ball into the path of Robinho, who volleys wide with the goal gaping.
3 min: Milan waste two goal-scoring chances in quick succession!!
2 min: AC Milan are roared on by an enthusiastic home crowd, who pack the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium.
The match is underway
Both teams step onto the pitch. The Champions League anthem is being played.
Both sides met twice in the group stage. They drew 2-2 at the Nou Camp and Barcelona claimed a 3-2 victory at the San Siro.
Barcelona line-up: Valdes, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Mascherano, Keita, Busquets, Alexis, Lionel Messi.
AC Milan line-up: Abbiati, Mexes, Nesta, Bonera, Antonini, Seedorf, Nocerino, Ambrosini, Boateng, Ibrahimovic, Robinho.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri insisted his side will not resort to any cautious strategies at their venue, while Barca boss Pep Guardiola warned of the threat Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, an ex-Barcelona player, can pose.
Title holders Barcelona are firm favourites to go through, given their superb run of form. They are deemed an invincible team by many, but can seven-time European champions Milan beat the odds and eliminate them?
Welcome to Ahram Online’s live coverage of the European Champions League game between AC Milan and Barcelona in the first leg of the competition’s quarter-final.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter: @AO Sports)
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