AC Milan against Internazionale

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but Seedorf seems to have a very large head. Maybe he has an abnormally big brain. I have a friend with a very big head. I call him 'Big Head'.

SUB: Ambrossini on, Crespo off. A defensive move from Ancelotti, who is obviously very happy with the result as it stands.

Seedorf is robbed on the edge of the area, Cambiasso picks up the loose ball and smashes it past Dida but the whistle had already gone for Vieri's foul on Seedorf.

Goal news: Chelsea 4-1 Bayern. Drogba prods home from close range.

Van Der Meyde's first contribution is to cut in from the left wing and curl a cross towards Vieri, which Dida comes out and collects under a little pressure.

SUB: Zanetti off, Van Der Mayde on. The Dutch winger has come on for the final ten minutes in an effort to spread the game wide. Will it work? I don't know.

Martins almost gets on the end of a flicked header from Vieri, but Stam is again on hand to deny him on the edge of the area. He's been outstanding tonight.

Favalli gives away a corner when he diverts a cross behind. It's taken short, but Inter eventually clear. They are struggling to get a hold of the ball at the moment, however, and Milan soon have them under pressure again.

Kaladze is found by a neat pass from Crespo, and his cross towards Shevchenko requires a great interception from Cordoba.

Did I mention that Shevchenko was booked for his celebration? He was. The Milan supporters are going mental; jumping, shouting, clapping, cheering, dancing - you name the verb, those crazy kids are doing it.

The European Footballer of the Year takes his shirt off and exposes a very pale chest during his celebration. He certainly hasn't spent his two months out injured sunbathing.

GOAL: Pirlo swings in the free-kick, Shevchenko drifts in between two markers in the six-yard box and heads past Toldo.

Mihilovic follows Shevchenko's run out to the right wing, and sends him toppling with a crunching challenge out on the touchline.

Karagounis has started on the left wing, with Stankovic shifted over to the right. Milan have kept an excellent shape to their defence, though, and Inter will have to work very hard to create something.

Karagounis has added a bit of energy to the Inter play; he's immediately in to the action, drifting past a couple of players before sprinting to make sure his colleague has a passing option.

SUB: Karagounis on, Veron off for Inter. Kaladze on, Nesta off for Milan. Goal news from England: Chelsea 3-1 Bayern. Lampard turns and volleys from inside the box.

Shevechenko gets in behind Mihilovic, but the ball takes him away from goal and he can't quite find a team-mate with his pass from the by-line.

Inter prepare to make another substitution as Milan enjoy another spell of possession. Inter have defended well throughout, but have been undone by that rash challenge from Cruz.

Some nice neat touches down the left touchline allows Seedorf to break clear. He curls a nice ball in towards Crespo, but it drifts just over his head.

Mihilovic is then booked for remonstrating with the referee that the defensive wall wasn't ten yards from the free-kick. Idiot.

Stam is booked for sliding in from behind on Vieri. Mihilovic summons up all his frustration, screws it up in to a little ball, and unleashes it in a 45-yard shot at goal.

Nice play from Martins; he skips past a couple of players and flicks a pass in to the feet of Veiri, but the substitute had drifted a yard off-side.

Favalli skips past Cafu on the left wing and cuts back a nice ball in to the area. Just as Vieri is pulling back his left-foot to crash home from 12 yards, Pirlo slides in to nick the ball clear. Great defending.

Inter are beginning to have a little more of the ball, but there is a great red and black wall to get through before they can even think about threatening the goal.

Goal news from Stamford Bridge: Chelsea 2-1 Bayern. Frank Lampard volley from Drogba's knock-down.

The tireless Cafu brings the ball forward to start another Milan attack. Favalli and Zanetti are working very hard to close down the space, however.

Vieri almost manages to chase down Stankovic's through-ball, though Dida sprints off his line to collect just inches from the striker's boot.

SUB: Veiri on, Cruz off. The equivalent of finally deciding that, when attempting to batter down the drawbridge to a very lucrative castle, using the trunk of a Giant Red Wood would be more successful than using a small twig.

Shevchenko is just inches short of getting on the end of a Kaka cross, curled in towards the far post. The striker and Toldo end up in a heap in the back of the net.

Cheers from the Inter fans as Vieri begins to warm up on the sidelines. He looks healthy. I say 'healthy', I actually mean over-weight.

Goal news from Stamford Bridge: Chelsea 1-1 Bayern.

Maldini almost plays in Seedorf behind the back of the Inter defence, but it is over-hit. Milan look a much better side at the start of the second half.

Kaka breaks through the middle and passes to Shevchenko, who had pulled out to the left. The striker attempts to cut inside and shoot, but his effort is blocked just outside the area.

Veron is very frustrated when the referee gives a free-kick against him. He does that hand gesture that is so popular on the continent: raising one hand to his mouth as though feeding himself a slice of bread.

Mihilovic takes the set-piece, 20 yards out and central. The Milan wall seem to squeeze up a couple of yards and the Inter defender can only curl his shot over the bar.

Stam fouls Martins on the edge of the area. Quite why the striker, who must be seven feet tall and weigh 400lbs, had to throw himself to the ground so energetically is beyond me. In fact, more than that, it downright angers me.

Milan kick off the second half. They will have been delighted, obviously, by their late goal. Inter look dejected, like a small boy just been told that he's having Brussell sprouts for tea.

Flares in the crowd as the players re-enter. Flares are very common in Italy, aren't they? Why only in Italy and not in other countries? I can't tell you. I really can't.

HALF TIME: Stam's late goal means that the home side have the advantage, despite being outplayed for most of the first 45 minutes.

Stam's first goal for AC Milan comes at a great time for his club. The goal is right against the run of play and utterly undeserved.

GOAL: Pirlo curls the ball in to the six-yard box, and Stam gets up above Cordoba to glance a header inside the far post.

Cruz is working hard, tracking back to help his side, but he gives away a free-kick after a foul on Kaka in a very dangerous area.

Seedorf tries to find Crespo through the middle but again his pass is over-hit and possession is given away cheaply.

Ooooh! Favalli finds Cruz, who turns so sharply in the penalty area and curls a shot towards goal. Dida is alert enough to palm the ball wide and out for a corner.

Seedorf flicks a ball out to Cafu, who wins a corner when his attempted cross is deflected out of play. There are one or two jeers being heard from the crowd.

So, approaching half-time, Mancini is sure to be the happiest manager. His team have been the better of the two, though I'm sure he will be looking for an away goal in the second half.

Cruz pounces, like a mountain tiger, on a loose ball 40 yards out and attempts to loft a little ball over the top of Nesta and Stam for Martins to run on to. His crafty plan is thwarted by an off-side flag.

Inter have worked very hard in midfield to deny Seedorf, Kaka and Pirlo any time on the ball to pick their passes in to Crespo and Shevchenko.

Crespo is found on the left-hand side of the area by Kaka, but his prod towards goal is deflected out for a corner by a sliding Cordoba.

Gattuso's facial hair, I'm thinking, makes him look like a Renaissance painter; arty, creative, a little pretentious and yet, somehow, incredibly angry and vicious.

Favalli breaks down the left, crosses, and Cruz seems to take the ball off the boot of Martins as the big Inter striker was about to hit a first-time effort.

Inter have been the better side for the last ten minutes, and look the more likely to score. Veron is becoming an increasing influence on the game, and is finding his range of passes.

Veron cracks a free-kick from 30 yards. It's well-hit but straight at Dida, who palms it over the bar for a corner.

Gattuso is booked after chatting too long to the referee following a 50-50 decision that went against him. It's a significant booking, as it means he misses the second leg.

Veron slides a nice ball in to the area where Zanetti had found some space. His attempted shot on the turn is deflected back to Veron, who hits a first-time, left-foot volley wide of the far post.

As might have been expected, the defences have been on top in the first half-hour.

Favalli tries to loft a ball over Cafu towards Stankovic, but it skids out of play. Immediately, Cafu sprints up field to try and take advantage of the space, but he's not seen by his team-mates.

Zanetti wins a corner for his side when his attempted through-ball to Martins is deflected. Mihilovic takes the corner from the right, and Cordoba's flicked effort at the near post flies just wide.

A little quiet spell at the moment, but we'll forgive the players for that.

Martins does well to get past Maldini on the right wing. He blasts over a low cross towards Cruz, but Nesta slides in to put the ball out for a throw-in.

DID YOU KNOW? Inter have only been beaten once, in all competitions, this season? And which team do you think got the better of them? Milan. Very good. Football is a funny old game, isn't it? All sorts of quirky little stats and eccentricities.

This time Veron does find Cruz on the outside of the area. His first effort is blocked, but it falls to him once again. His second shot gets past his marker, but it flies over Dida's bar.

Veron picks up the ball after Zanetti holds off the challenge of Gattuso. He does well to spot a through ball towards Cruz, but his pass is over-hit and goes out for a goal-kick.

A Mihilovic foul 35 yards out gives Pirlo the chance to shoot. His right-foot effort deflects off the wall and out for a corner. Pirlo has sensational hair; so bouncy and thick and full of life.

Sloppy play from Cafu as he loses out on the left wing to Stankovic. Inter have Cruz and Martins in the box, but the low cross is cut out. A heart-stopping moment for the veteran Brazilian.

A mistake from Cambiasso leads to another Milan counter. Seedorf does well to hold off a couple of challenges, but the move breaks down.

Good spell of pressure from Milan. Seedorf collects the half-cleared corner, and puts another cross in to the box. An off-side flag ends the danger.

Pirlo curls in a free-kick in to a congested penalty area, but Mihilovic rises highest to head clear. Cafu collects the loose ball and wins a corner when his cross is deflected behind.

Inter are struggling to do anything with the ball on the rare occasions they get hold of it in Milan's half. Dida comes to collect a long ball lofted in to the penalty area towards Martins.

Pirlo almost curls a ball out to Shevchenko, who had peeled off his marker and out to the left channel, but the pass is off target.

Favalli has to be alert to snuff out some danger from Kaka, who had again drifted out on to the right touchline. Strangely, Milan look at their most dangerous when Inter have got possession of the ball.

The television cameras pick out Adriano in the crowd. He looks very glum. Perhaps he's just had some bad news; he's forgotten to pay his tax bill, or the oven in his penthouse flat has broken.

Kaka beats his marker and breaks down the right wing. He tries to curl a ball in to Crespo, who had found a yard of space in the penalty area, but his pass is cut out. Nice break from the 'home' side.

'Rino' Gattuso; he's sporting a beard that makes him look like a Canadian logger. He looks so angry. If I had to find one word to sum him up, it would be: Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Disappointing delivery from the corner gifts possession back to Milan, who counter through Shevchenko.

Ooooh! Mihilovic curls the free-kick towards the top-corner, but Dida dives full-length to tip the ball out for a corner.

Cruz wins a free-kick as he is bundled over by Stam, thirty yards out. The referee might have played the advantage, as Cambiasso had burst in to a dangerous position, but he instead gives free-kick.

There is a tremendous atmosphere inside the San Siro tonight, readers. Seedorf wins a throw in deep in Inter territory. A little fact for you, my friends: Seedorf has won the Champions League three times with three different clubs. Wowzers.

Cafu and Favalli clash and Milan win the free-kick. Pirlo curls the ball in but Cordoba rises at the far post to flick the ball clear. Milan are getting more of the ball now, and Inter seem happy to play on the break.

Goal news from Stamford Bridge: Chelsea 1-0 Bayern Munich. Joe Cole has netted an early goal with a deflected drive.

I expect there will be some spicey words between the players this evening. "Cardamom, chili, turmeric." See what I did there? Clever boy.

Crespo makes an excellent run down the right channel, and wins a corner off Cordoba. The set-piece is curled in by Seedorf, but the boys in white clear.

Whistles ring out whenever Inter have the ball, indicating that Milan have far more fans in the stadium than their counterparts.

Inter clearly value the away goal; they have shown that with the selection of two strikers. They enjoy the early possession, though are forced back by Milan.

Inter kick off. They are playing in their away strip of all-white. Very angelic, although it doesn't show much respect for the poor kit lady.

There is a minute's silence for the death of Pope John Paul II. As you would expect, it is impeccably observed.

Conversely, Inter are missing their main striker, Adriano, although they have gone with an attacking formation with Cruz and Martins up front.

Milan have been boosted by the return of Shevchenko, the European Footballer of the Year. He's been out for almost two months, but is back playing his first game tonight. Nice timing.

As the Champions League 'anthem' plays in the background, the teams shake hands and pat each other's behinds. Very amicable.

See if you can get your head around this: Inter are the away team in this leg, and yet they are playing in their home stadium! Crazy stuff.

The Rossoneri have the honour of being at 'home' first as the two Milan giants go head-to-head with Inter still smarting from going out on away goals in their own stadium the last time the pair met in this competition. Milan haven't lost to their city rivals in nine matches; join us at 7.45 to see if they can make it a perfect ten.

SUB: Karagounis on, Veron off for Inter. Kaladze on, Nesta off for Milan. Goal news from England: Chelsea 3-1 Bayern. Lampard turns and volleys from inside the box.

Shevechenko gets in behind Mihilovic, but the ball takes him away from goal and he can't quite find a team-mate with his pass from the by-line.

Inter prepare to make another substitution as Milan enjoy another spell of possession. Inter have defended well throughout, but have been undone by that rash challenge from Cruz.

Some nice neat touches down the left touchline allows Seedorf to break clear. He curls a nice ball in towards Crespo, but it drifts just over his head.

Mihilovic is then booked for remonstrating with the referee that the defensive wall wasn't ten yards from the free-kick. Idiot.

Stam is booked for sliding in from behind on Vieri. Mihilovic summons up all his frustration, screws it up in to a little ball, and unleashes it in a 45-yard shot at goal.

Nice play from Martins; he skips past a couple of players and flicks a pass in to the feet of Veiri, but the substitute had drifted a yard off-side.

Favalli skips past Cafu on the left wing and cuts back a nice ball in to the area. Just as Vieri is pulling back his left-foot to crash home from 12 yards, Pirlo slides in to nick the ball clear. Great defending.

Inter are beginning to have a little more of the ball, but there is a great red and black wall to get through before they can even think about threatening the goal.

Goal news from Stamford Bridge: Chelsea 2-1 Bayern. Frank Lampard volley from Drogba's knock-down.

The tireless Cafu brings the ball forward to start another Milan attack. Favalli and Zanetti are working very hard to close down the space, however.

Vieri almost manages to chase down Stankovic's through-ball, though Dida sprints off his line to collect just inches from the striker's boot.

SUB: Veiri on, Cruz off. The equivalent of finally deciding that, when attempting to batter down the drawbridge to a very lucrative castle, using the trunk of a Giant Red Wood would be more successful than using a small twig.

Shevchenko is just inches short of getting on the end of a Kaka cross, curled in towards the far post. The striker and Toldo end up in a heap in the back of the net.

Cheers from the Inter fans as Vieri begins to warm up on the sidelines. He looks healthy. I say 'healthy', I actually mean over-weight.

Goal news from Stamford Bridge: Chelsea 1-1 Bayern.

Maldini almost plays in Seedorf behind the back of the Inter defence, but it is over-hit. Milan look a much better side at the start of the second half.

Kaka breaks through the middle and passes to Shevchenko, who had pulled out to the left. The striker attempts to cut inside and shoot, but his effort is blocked just outside the area.

Veron is very frustrated when the referee gives a free-kick against him. He does that hand gesture that is so popular on the continent: raising one hand to his mouth as though feeding himself a slice of bread.

Mihilovic takes the set-piece, 20 yards out and central. The Milan wall seem to squeeze up a couple of yards and the Inter defender can only curl his shot over the bar.

Stam fouls Martins on the edge of the area. Quite why the striker, who must be seven feet tall and weigh 400lbs, had to throw himself to the ground so energetically is beyond me. In fact, more than that, it downright angers me.

Milan kick off the second half. They will have been delighted, obviously, by their late goal. Inter look dejected, like a small boy just been told that he's having Brussell sprouts for tea.

Flares in the crowd as the players re-enter. Flares are very common in Italy, aren't they? Why only in Italy and not in other countries? I can't tell you. I really can't.

HALF TIME: Stam's late goal means that the home side have the advantage, despite being outplayed for most of the first 45 minutes.

Stam's first goal for AC Milan comes at a great time for his club. The goal is right against the run of play and utterly undeserved.

GOAL: Pirlo curls the ball in to the six-yard box, and Stam gets up above Cordoba to glance a header inside the far post.

Cruz is working hard, tracking back to help his side, but he gives away a free-kick after a foul on Kaka in a very dangerous area.

Seedorf tries to find Crespo through the middle but again his pass is over-hit and possession is given away cheaply.

Ooooh! Favalli finds Cruz, who turns so sharply in the penalty area and curls a shot towards goal. Dida is alert enough to palm the ball wide and out for a corner.

Seedorf flicks a ball out to Cafu, who wins a corner when his attempted cross is deflected out of play. There are one or two jeers being heard from the crowd.

So, approaching half-time, Mancini is sure to be the happiest manager. His team have been the better of the two, though I'm sure he will be looking for an away goal in the second half.

Cruz pounces, like a mountain tiger, on a loose ball 40 yards out and attempts to loft a little ball over the top of Nesta and Stam for Martins to run on to. His crafty plan is thwarted by an off-side flag.

Inter have worked very hard in midfield to deny Seedorf, Kaka and Pirlo any time on the ball to pick their passes in to Crespo and Shevchenko.

Crespo is found on the left-hand side of the area by Kaka, but his prod towards goal is deflected out for a corner by a sliding Cordoba.

Gattuso's facial hair, I'm thinking, makes him look like a Renaissance painter; arty, creative, a little pretentious and yet, somehow, incredibly angry and vicious.

Favalli breaks down the left, crosses, and Cruz seems to take the ball off the boot of Martins as the big Inter striker was about to hit a first-time effort.

Inter have been the better side for the last ten minutes, and look the more likely to score. Veron is becoming an increasing influence on the game, and is finding his range of passes.

Veron cracks a free-kick from 30 yards. It's well-hit but straight at Dida, who palms it over the bar for a corner.

Gattuso is booked after chatting too long to the referee following a 50-50 decision that went against him. It's a significant booking, as it means he misses the second leg.

Veron slides a nice ball in to the area where Zanetti had found some space. His attempted shot on the turn is deflected back to Veron, who hits a first-time, left-foot volley wide of the far post.

As might have been expected, the defences have been on top in the first half-hour.

Favalli tries to loft a ball over Cafu towards Stankovic, but it skids out of play. Immediately, Cafu sprints up field to try and take advantage of the space, but he's not seen by his team-mates.

Zanetti wins a corner for his side when his attempted through-ball to Martins is deflected. Mihilovic takes the corner from the right, and Cordoba's flicked effort at the near post flies just wide.

A little quiet spell at the moment, but we'll forgive the players for that.

Martins does well to get past Maldini on the right wing. He blasts over a low cross towards Cruz, but Nesta slides in to put the ball out for a throw-in.

DID YOU KNOW? Inter have only been beaten once, in all competitions, this season? And which team do you think got the better of them? Milan. Very good. Football is a funny old game, isn't it? All sorts of quirky little stats and eccentricities.

This time Veron does find Cruz on the outside of the area. His first effort is blocked, but it falls to him once again. His second shot gets past his marker, but it flies over Dida's bar.

Veron picks up the ball after Zanetti holds off the challenge of Gattuso. He does well to spot a through ball towards Cruz, but his pass is over-hit and goes out for a goal-kick.

A Mihilovic foul 35 yards out gives Pirlo the chance to shoot. His right-foot effort deflects off the wall and out for a corner. Pirlo has sensational hair; so bouncy and thick and full of life.

Sloppy play from Cafu as he loses out on the left wing to Stankovic. Inter have Cruz and Martins in the box, but the low cross is cut out. A heart-stopping moment for the veteran Brazilian.

A mistake from Cambiasso leads to another Milan counter. Seedorf does well to hold off a couple of challenges, but the move breaks down.

Good spell of pressure from Milan. Seedorf collects the half-cleared corner, and puts another cross in to the box. An off-side flag ends the danger.

Pirlo curls in a free-kick in to a congested penalty area, but Mihilovic rises highest to head clear. Cafu collects the loose ball and wins a corner when his cross is deflected behind.

Inter are struggling to do anything with the ball on the rare occasions they get hold of it in Milan's half. Dida comes to collect a long ball lofted in to the penalty area towards Martins.

Pirlo almost curls a ball out to Shevchenko, who had peeled off his marker and out to the left channel, but the pass is off target.

Favalli has to be alert to snuff out some danger from Kaka, who had again drifted out on to the right touchline. Strangely, Milan look at their most dangerous when Inter have got possession of the ball.

The television cameras pick out Adriano in the crowd. He looks very glum. Perhaps he's just had some bad news; he's forgotten to pay his tax bill, or the oven in his penthouse flat has broken.

Kaka beats his marker and breaks down the right wing. He tries to curl a ball in to Crespo, who had found a yard of space in the penalty area, but his pass is cut out. Nice break from the 'home' side.

'Rino' Gattuso; he's sporting a beard that makes him look like a Canadian logger. He looks so angry. If I had to find one word to sum him up, it would be: Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Disappointing delivery from the corner gifts possession back to Milan, who counter through Shevchenko.

Ooooh! Mihilovic curls the free-kick towards the top-corner, but Dida dives full-length to tip the ball out for a corner.

Cruz wins a free-kick as he is bundled over by Stam, thirty yards out. The referee might have played the advantage, as Cambiasso had burst in to a dangerous position, but he instead gives free-kick.

There is a tremendous atmosphere inside the San Siro tonight, readers. Seedorf wins a throw in deep in Inter territory. A little fact for you, my friends: Seedorf has won the Champions League three times with three different clubs. Wowzers.

Cafu and Favalli clash and Milan win the free-kick. Pirlo curls the ball in but Cordoba rises at the far post to flick the ball clear. Milan are getting more of the ball now, and Inter seem happy to play on the break.

Goal news from Stamford Bridge: Chelsea 1-0 Bayern Munich. Joe Cole has netted an early goal with a deflected drive.

I expect there will be some spicey words between the players this evening. "Cardamom, chili, turmeric." See what I did there? Clever boy.

Crespo makes an excellent run down the right channel, and wins a corner off Cordoba. The set-piece is curled in by Seedorf, but the boys in white clear.

Whistles ring out whenever Inter have the ball, indicating that Milan have far more fans in the stadium than their counterparts.

Inter clearly value the away goal; they have shown that with the selection of two strikers. They enjoy the early possession, though are forced back by Milan.

Inter kick off. They are playing in their away strip of all-white. Very angelic, although it doesn't show much respect for the poor kit lady.

There is a minute's silence for the death of Pope John Paul II. As you would expect, it is impeccably observed.

Conversely, Inter are missing their main striker, Adriano, although they have gone with an attacking formation with Cruz and Martins up front.

Milan have been boosted by the return of Shevchenko, the European Footballer of the Year. He's been out for almost two months, but is back playing his first game tonight. Nice timing.

As the Champions League 'anthem' plays in the background, the teams shake hands and pat each other's behinds. Very amicable.

See if you can get your head around this: Inter are the away team in this leg, and yet they are playing in their home stadium! Crazy stuff.

The Rossoneri have the honour of being at 'home' first as the two Milan giants go head-to-head with Inter still smarting from going out on away goals in their own stadium the last time the pair met in this competition. Milan haven't lost to their city rivals in nine matches; join us at 7.45 to see if they can make it a perfect ten.