AC Milan against Barcelona

Seedorf curls a cross in to the middle, but it is too close to the keeper, who collects on his six-yard line.

Eto's shove on Kaladze down near the corner flag results in another free-kick. The clock continues to tick...

...He curls his shot in right-footed, but it dips a foot or so over the crossbar, with Dida scrambling across his goal-line.

Barcelona line-up a free-kick in a dangerous spot; Ronaldinho stands over the ball...

That really was a good chance for the home side to get the equaliser they so desperately crave; it seems unlikely that they'll get a better opening than that in the final ten minutes or so.

GREAT CHANCE! Kaka's superb reverse-pass feeds Ambrosini inside the area, but the substitute's shot on the turn is scuffed three yards wide. Poor, poor effort.

AWFUL! Ambrosini collects a knock-down from Shevchenko, but his shot from the edge of the area is woefully sliced and easily taken by Valdes.

Milan, in truth, don't look like their going to snatch an equaliser; Barcelona are defending well, and the home side just haven't been able to find their rhythm going forward tonight.

MILAN SUB: Cafu comes on to replace Stam; the attack-minded Brazilian is given the chance to drive forward down the right as Milan search for this equaliser.

Stam's cross from the right causes panic in the Barcelona's back-four, but Serginho can't quite control the ball at the back post and Valdes collects.

BARCELONA SUB: Oleguer is replaced by Motta. The right-back seemed to pick up an injury when defending against Serginho a moment or two ago.

SHOT! Kaka drives at the heart of the Barcelona defence, but his right-foot shot at the end flies high and wide of Valdes' goal.

Valdes is booked for taking too long over a goal-kick.

MILAN SUB: Ambrosini replaces Gattuso. A midfielder for a midfielder, but Gattuso was one of the few Milan players playing with energy and passion.

Milan are starting to lose their shape a little; they are really being pulled out of position by the swift, decisive Barcelona passing.

Van Bommel has done a good job for Barcelona tonight; in La Liga matches, he is given much more licence to get forward, but tonight he has been very disciplined.

BARCELONA SUB: Belleti replaces Giuly; a defensive chance from Rijkaard, who brings on the Brazilian right-back to replace the more offensive Giuly.

Milan are experts at protecting leads in big games like this, but they don't look very comfortable when trying to eat in to one here.

Ronaldino has had a much better second half; he has begun to drift inside from the left wing and is causing a lot of problems when he is given the chance to run with the ball.

Shevchenko and Kaka break, but Kaka's cross is cut out at the near post.

MILAN SUB: Maldini replaces Pilro. A slightly strange change from Ancelotti. I think Milan will go at three at the back and send Serginho forward.

SHOT! Iniesta plays a nice one-two with Eto'o and curls in a low shot from 20 yards, but Dida is down quickly to save.

Barcelona are beginning to look a lot more confident now; they are passing the ball with real confidence and poise, pushing and pulling the Milan midfield around at will.

Ancelotti seems to be preparing changes; there is some activity in the home dugout.

OFF THE POST! Barcelona break at speed with Giuly, Ronaldinho and Eto'o; the Brazilian picks up the ball on the edge of the area and prods goalwards; it beats Dida but rolls across the face of goal after bouncing off the inside of the post.

CHANCE! Serginho fires over a cross from the left; it is met by Gattuso, but he can't direct his header goalwards and Milan clear.

Milan win a free-kick when Van Bommel brings down Gattuso. The Milan fans are starting to get a little frustrated.

Giuly shows good determination and defensive awareness to track back and intercept Kaka's pass out to Serginho on the Milan left.

Milan are bidding to make it through to their 11th European Cup or Champions League final, but it will be very difficult for them unless they at least level the tie before the trip to Spain next week.

That is a big goal for Barcelona; an away goal is so important at this stage of the competition. How will Milan respond? Stay here and find out...

It was a superb finish from the Frenchman Giuly; he was spotted well by Ronaldinho, but the run and finish from a tight angle was excellent.

GOAL! Ronaldinho flicks a great pass over the top of the Milan defence; Giuly makes the run and smashes a left-foot volley past Dida at the near post.

Stam breaks down the right wing but his cross is poor and drifts behind for a goal-kick.

Puyol ends up on the turf as he and Kaka go shoulder-to-shoulder, chasing down a ball hit hopefully in to the right channel.

WHAT WAS THAT? Giuly feeds Eto'o down the right channel, but the Cameroonian striker opts for a terribly ambitious shot from a very tight angle, instead of sending a cross in to the middle.

A few substitutes are starting to warm-up on the sidelines; which manager will make the first move?

That was the best chance of the match so far; perhaps Gilardino should have taken on the shot himself, but when he squared it, Kaka should definitely have put the ball in to the empty net.

HOW! A superb move from Milan as Shevchenko dinks a great pass over the top for Gilardino inside the six-yard box; he opts to pass to Kaka, but he manages to screw his stabbed shot wide of the far post.

There seems to be a bit more zest, a bit of a quicker tempo to the game since the break. That's promising, because the first half was a bit drab.

Stam is in strongly with a challenge on Ronaldinho. Free-kick to Barcelona, on the half-way line.

Kaka breaks away from Edmilson down the left, but in fending off the challenge he is adjudged to have fouled his Brazilian team-mate.

Seedorf breaks down the right and chips a cross towards the back post for Kaka, but Van Bronkhorst covers well with a defensive header.

Ronaldinho picks up the ball in a very promising position, but rather tamely gives possession away attempting an amitious pass to Eto'o.

Barcelona kick off the second half. No changes at the break from either side.

HALF-TIME: Not exactly free-flowing, but then we didn't expect it to be. Milan finished the stronger, but Barcelona will be happy to go in goalless.

Iniesta needs some treatment after being caught by Pirlo.

OVER! Eto'o collects Ronaldinho's short pass, 20 yards out. A little shimmy works him some space, but his right-foot shot flies high over Dida's crossbar.

Barcelona don't look in any particular hurry as they try to see out the half.

A promising Milan move breaks down when Kaka and Seedorf bump in to each other as they fight for a ball on the edge of the Barcelona area.

I've just been told that tonight's game has generated a record ticket revenue for Milan - over three-and-a-half million Euros.

Good defending from Giuly as he tracks the run of Serginho and bravely sees the ball out of play for a Barcelona goal-kick.

This has been a tactical, cagey game so far, but I think Milan are edging in front as the first half comes to a close; they are showing just a little more ambition and desire to get a positive result.

OFF-SIDE! Gilardino is flagged for running a moment too soon as he tries to get on Pirlo's pass over the top of the Barcelona defence.

GOOD PLAY, POOR SHOT! Barcelona nick the ball in a dangerous spot; Giuly, Eto'o and Ronaldinho combine well in a tight spot on the edge of the area, but Giuly's shot is tame and easily saved.

Milan are starting to move the ball around better now; there is a sharpness about their passing, and the home side are beginning to commit more players forward.

JUST WIDE! Pirlo curls the shot around the wall, but is skips off the turf and bounces a yard or so wide of Vales' near post.

Puyol is booked for a trip on Kaka as the striker tried to get on the end of Shevchenko's through-ball. The Barcelona players aren't happy with the decision, and Milan have a great chance with this free-kick...

Stam again does well, coming across to fend off Ronaldinho on the edge of the penalty area. This is Stam's final year in Italy; he is going to Ajax at the end of the season.

Stam makes a good, sliding challenge on Van Bronkhorst, bidding to get on the end of Ronaldinho's pass down the left wing.

...He bends it in to the area, but it is inches from the head of Shevchenko, who had momentarily lost his marker Puyol.

Puyol is adjudged to have brought down Kaka. Free-kick, over which stands Pirlo, 35 yards out...

Ronaldinho shows his first flash of brilliance as he skins Pirlo with a tricky step-over before trying to feed Eto'o in the area.

...But Ronaldinho fires his shot in to the Milan wall. Disappointing effort from the Barcelona star.

Eto'o is brought down by Kaladze. Great position for Barcelona to get a shot in on goal. Ronaldinho and Marquez stand over the ball...

Stam makes an important challenge to snuff out the threat of Van Bommel, who was trying to break down the left channel.

The really talented playmakers on show tonight haven't got going as yet; Ronaldinho, Giuly, Kaka and Pirlo have failed to get themselves in to dangerous positions.

Kaladze doesn't really deal with Van Bronkhorst's long ball up-field, but Dida is quickly off his line to collect, under the nose of the waiting Eto'o.

Milan have looked the better side in the opening twenty minutes, but there isn't much in this tight game at the moment.

GOOD EFFORT! Eto'o shrugs off the challenge of Nesta; he works himself a little space before unleashing a low shot, but his effort is straight down the throat of Dida.

Edmilson appears to have been given the task of man-marking Kaka; everywhere the Brazilian play-maker is going, so to Edmilson.

Ronaldinho hasn't had a good start to the game; again he rather lazily gifts possession back to the home side with a sloppy pass, setting up a swift Milan counter.

Ronaldinho goes on a rare venture away from the left touchline and wins his side a free-kick. He fires it in to the penalty area, but Nesta heads clear.

Gilardino, who struck the post a few moments ago, has yet to score a European goal for Milan after his move from Parma during the summer. He'll be kicking himself for missing that early chance.

So, after a very slow start to the match, Milan have suddenly taken control; they had two excellent chances to take the lead, but have been denied.

SAVE! Shevchenko's header is brilliantly saved at the near post by Valdes. Milan corner, but Barcelona eventually clear their lines.

OFF THE POST! Gilardino controls Serginho's long throw in to the penalty area, but his shot from a tight angle strikes the upright.

SHOT! Van Bommel has the first shot of the evening. Unfortunately, it is dreadful; a scuffed, dragged right-foot effort from 30 yards that bobbles well wide.

It has been a tactical, probing start to the match from both sides; I can't recall a single shot on goal in the opening minutes.

Seedorf takes away Edmilson's legs to give Barcelona a free-kick.

Kaka pressurises Puyol in to giving away a soft throw, deep inside his own half, but Milan can't capitalise.

Barcelona do have a couple of key players missing tonight, with Messi and Larsson on the sidelines. But they do have a wonderful squad, and have still been able to field a positive side this evening.

Gattuso's trailing leg trips up Ronaldinho as he tried to pass him in midfield; free-kick to Barcelona.

Ronaldinho fires a high ball in to the edge of the penalty ares, where Giuly meets it with his head; Dida collects easily inside his six-yard box.

It has been a fairly slow start to the game here; neither side has threatened at all. Barcelona have had a bit more of the ball, but Milan are very quick to close them down.

Again, the Milan players snap at the heels of Ronaldinho in midfield; they are obviously very keen to stop the brilliant Brazilian getting too much of the ball.

Gattuso and Stam combine to win the ball from Ronaldinho, earning a roar from the Milan fans.

Guily and Ronaldinho are on the flanks for the visiting side, but they will have been instructed to give Eto'o as much support as possible through the middle.

...Kaka whips the set-piece in to a crowded penalty area; Stam attacks it, but Van Bronkhorst manages to hook the ball clear.

Shevchenko is brought down as he tried to get between Puyol and Van Bronkhorst down the flank. Free-kick to the home side...

Marquez has missed the last seven games for Barcelona, but he will be an important man at the back tonight; he's up against Shevchenko, the leading scorer of all-time in this competition.

It is a dozen years between Barcelona made a Champions League final; they have been under-acheivers in Europe in general.

Barcelona kick off to a wall of sound inside the San Siro.

The fans inside the San Siro are in wonderful voice as the players walk out on to the pitch.

I'm Alex; I'm here to guide you through the action down there on the pitch.

Welcome to ESPN Soccernet's coverage of the Champions League semi-final, first-leg tie between AC Milan and Barcelona at the San Siro.

Milan are starting to lose their shape a little; they are really being pulled out of position by the swift, decisive Barcelona passing.

Van Bommel has done a good job for Barcelona tonight; in La Liga matches, he is given much more licence to get forward, but tonight he has been very disciplined.

BARCELONA SUB: Belleti replaces Giuly; a defensive chance from Rijkaard, who brings on the Brazilian right-back to replace the more offensive Giuly.

Milan are experts at protecting leads in big games like this, but they don't look very comfortable when trying to eat in to one here.

Ronaldino has had a much better second half; he has begun to drift inside from the left wing and is causing a lot of problems when he is given the chance to run with the ball.

Shevchenko and Kaka break, but Kaka's cross is cut out at the near post.

MILAN SUB: Maldini replaces Pilro. A slightly strange change from Ancelotti. I think Milan will go at three at the back and send Serginho forward.

SHOT! Iniesta plays a nice one-two with Eto'o and curls in a low shot from 20 yards, but Dida is down quickly to save.

Barcelona are beginning to look a lot more confident now; they are passing the ball with real confidence and poise, pushing and pulling the Milan midfield around at will.

Ancelotti seems to be preparing changes; there is some activity in the home dugout.

OFF THE POST! Barcelona break at speed with Giuly, Ronaldinho and Eto'o; the Brazilian picks up the ball on the edge of the area and prods goalwards; it beats Dida but rolls across the face of goal after bouncing off the inside of the post.

CHANCE! Serginho fires over a cross from the left; it is met by Gattuso, but he can't direct his header goalwards and Milan clear.

Milan win a free-kick when Van Bommel brings down Gattuso. The Milan fans are starting to get a little frustrated.

Giuly shows good determination and defensive awareness to track back and intercept Kaka's pass out to Serginho on the Milan left.

Milan are bidding to make it through to their 11th European Cup or Champions League final, but it will be very difficult for them unless they at least level the tie before the trip to Spain next week.

That is a big goal for Barcelona; an away goal is so important at this stage of the competition. How will Milan respond? Stay here and find out...

It was a superb finish from the Frenchman Giuly; he was spotted well by Ronaldinho, but the run and finish from a tight angle was excellent.

GOAL! Ronaldinho flicks a great pass over the top of the Milan defence; Giuly makes the run and smashes a left-foot volley past Dida at the near post.

Stam breaks down the right wing but his cross is poor and drifts behind for a goal-kick.

Puyol ends up on the turf as he and Kaka go shoulder-to-shoulder, chasing down a ball hit hopefully in to the right channel.

WHAT WAS THAT? Giuly feeds Eto'o down the right channel, but the Cameroonian striker opts for a terribly ambitious shot from a very tight angle, instead of sending a cross in to the middle.

A few substitutes are starting to warm-up on the sidelines; which manager will make the first move?

That was the best chance of the match so far; perhaps Gilardino should have taken on the shot himself, but when he squared it, Kaka should definitely have put the ball in to the empty net.

HOW! A superb move from Milan as Shevchenko dinks a great pass over the top for Gilardino inside the six-yard box; he opts to pass to Kaka, but he manages to screw his stabbed shot wide of the far post.

There seems to be a bit more zest, a bit of a quicker tempo to the game since the break. That's promising, because the first half was a bit drab.

Stam is in strongly with a challenge on Ronaldinho. Free-kick to Barcelona, on the half-way line.

Kaka breaks away from Edmilson down the left, but in fending off the challenge he is adjudged to have fouled his Brazilian team-mate.

Seedorf breaks down the right and chips a cross towards the back post for Kaka, but Van Bronkhorst covers well with a defensive header.

Ronaldinho picks up the ball in a very promising position, but rather tamely gives possession away attempting an amitious pass to Eto'o.

Barcelona kick off the second half. No changes at the break from either side.

HALF-TIME: Not exactly free-flowing, but then we didn't expect it to be. Milan finished the stronger, but Barcelona will be happy to go in goalless.

Iniesta needs some treatment after being caught by Pirlo.

OVER! Eto'o collects Ronaldinho's short pass, 20 yards out. A little shimmy works him some space, but his right-foot shot flies high over Dida's crossbar.

Barcelona don't look in any particular hurry as they try to see out the half.

A promising Milan move breaks down when Kaka and Seedorf bump in to each other as they fight for a ball on the edge of the Barcelona area.

I've just been told that tonight's game has generated a record ticket revenue for Milan - over three-and-a-half million Euros.

Good defending from Giuly as he tracks the run of Serginho and bravely sees the ball out of play for a Barcelona goal-kick.

This has been a tactical, cagey game so far, but I think Milan are edging in front as the first half comes to a close; they are showing just a little more ambition and desire to get a positive result.

OFF-SIDE! Gilardino is flagged for running a moment too soon as he tries to get on Pirlo's pass over the top of the Barcelona defence.

GOOD PLAY, POOR SHOT! Barcelona nick the ball in a dangerous spot; Giuly, Eto'o and Ronaldinho combine well in a tight spot on the edge of the area, but Giuly's shot is tame and easily saved.

Milan are starting to move the ball around better now; there is a sharpness about their passing, and the home side are beginning to commit more players forward.

JUST WIDE! Pirlo curls the shot around the wall, but is skips off the turf and bounces a yard or so wide of Vales' near post.

Puyol is booked for a trip on Kaka as the striker tried to get on the end of Shevchenko's through-ball. The Barcelona players aren't happy with the decision, and Milan have a great chance with this free-kick...

Stam again does well, coming across to fend off Ronaldinho on the edge of the penalty area. This is Stam's final year in Italy; he is going to Ajax at the end of the season.

Stam makes a good, sliding challenge on Van Bronkhorst, bidding to get on the end of Ronaldinho's pass down the left wing.

...He bends it in to the area, but it is inches from the head of Shevchenko, who had momentarily lost his marker Puyol.

Puyol is adjudged to have brought down Kaka. Free-kick, over which stands Pirlo, 35 yards out...

Ronaldinho shows his first flash of brilliance as he skins Pirlo with a tricky step-over before trying to feed Eto'o in the area.

...But Ronaldinho fires his shot in to the Milan wall. Disappointing effort from the Barcelona star.

Eto'o is brought down by Kaladze. Great position for Barcelona to get a shot in on goal. Ronaldinho and Marquez stand over the ball...

Stam makes an important challenge to snuff out the threat of Van Bommel, who was trying to break down the left channel.

The really talented playmakers on show tonight haven't got going as yet; Ronaldinho, Giuly, Kaka and Pirlo have failed to get themselves in to dangerous positions.

Kaladze doesn't really deal with Van Bronkhorst's long ball up-field, but Dida is quickly off his line to collect, under the nose of the waiting Eto'o.

Milan have looked the better side in the opening twenty minutes, but there isn't much in this tight game at the moment.

GOOD EFFORT! Eto'o shrugs off the challenge of Nesta; he works himself a little space before unleashing a low shot, but his effort is straight down the throat of Dida.

Edmilson appears to have been given the task of man-marking Kaka; everywhere the Brazilian play-maker is going, so to Edmilson.

Ronaldinho hasn't had a good start to the game; again he rather lazily gifts possession back to the home side with a sloppy pass, setting up a swift Milan counter.

Ronaldinho goes on a rare venture away from the left touchline and wins his side a free-kick. He fires it in to the penalty area, but Nesta heads clear.

Gilardino, who struck the post a few moments ago, has yet to score a European goal for Milan after his move from Parma during the summer. He'll be kicking himself for missing that early chance.

So, after a very slow start to the match, Milan have suddenly taken control; they had two excellent chances to take the lead, but have been denied.

SAVE! Shevchenko's header is brilliantly saved at the near post by Valdes. Milan corner, but Barcelona eventually clear their lines.

OFF THE POST! Gilardino controls Serginho's long throw in to the penalty area, but his shot from a tight angle strikes the upright.

SHOT! Van Bommel has the first shot of the evening. Unfortunately, it is dreadful; a scuffed, dragged right-foot effort from 30 yards that bobbles well wide.

It has been a tactical, probing start to the match from both sides; I can't recall a single shot on goal in the opening minutes.

Seedorf takes away Edmilson's legs to give Barcelona a free-kick.

Kaka pressurises Puyol in to giving away a soft throw, deep inside his own half, but Milan can't capitalise.

Barcelona do have a couple of key players missing tonight, with Messi and Larsson on the sidelines. But they do have a wonderful squad, and have still been able to field a positive side this evening.

Gattuso's trailing leg trips up Ronaldinho as he tried to pass him in midfield; free-kick to Barcelona.

Ronaldinho fires a high ball in to the edge of the penalty ares, where Giuly meets it with his head; Dida collects easily inside his six-yard box.

It has been a fairly slow start to the game here; neither side has threatened at all. Barcelona have had a bit more of the ball, but Milan are very quick to close them down.

Again, the Milan players snap at the heels of Ronaldinho in midfield; they are obviously very keen to stop the brilliant Brazilian getting too much of the ball.

Gattuso and Stam combine to win the ball from Ronaldinho, earning a roar from the Milan fans.

Guily and Ronaldinho are on the flanks for the visiting side, but they will have been instructed to give Eto'o as much support as possible through the middle.

...Kaka whips the set-piece in to a crowded penalty area; Stam attacks it, but Van Bronkhorst manages to hook the ball clear.

Shevchenko is brought down as he tried to get between Puyol and Van Bronkhorst down the flank. Free-kick to the home side...

Marquez has missed the last seven games for Barcelona, but he will be an important man at the back tonight; he's up against Shevchenko, the leading scorer of all-time in this competition.

It is a dozen years between Barcelona made a Champions League final; they have been under-acheivers in Europe in general.

Barcelona kick off to a wall of sound inside the San Siro.

The fans inside the San Siro are in wonderful voice as the players walk out on to the pitch.

I'm Alex; I'm here to guide you through the action down there on the pitch.

Welcome to ESPN Soccernet's coverage of the Champions League semi-final, first-leg tie between AC Milan and Barcelona at the San Siro.