The Rossoneri hold Pep Guardiola’s side to an entertaining draw at San Siro; stakes high in the second-leg at Camp Nou.
Article continued from part 1
Both teams started the second-half, as they were in the first 45 minutes. The Catalans dominated the early possession in the opening minutes of the half, and came close to taking the lead immediately after the resumption.
Andres Iniesta made a lovely run from the left midfield, but he zinged his shot wide of the goal by few inches.
Massimiliano Allegri decided to use his first substitution of the game, as Stephan El Shaarawy was introduced in place of uninspiring, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robinho-c31382 in the 52nd minute. The substitute looked lively immediately after coming
on.
Nesta found his name on the referee’s book for chopping down Messi in the 58th minute. Keita became the first http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 player to be booked, as he tripped Ambrosini in the 61st minute.
Guardiola made a surprise substitution in the 65th minute, as he replaced Iniesta with rookie attacker, Tello. Allegri also decided to make a substitution couple of minutes later, as Urby Emanuelson came onto replace
Boateng.
The referee was kept extremely busy, as Ambrosini was booked for a late challenge on Xavi in the 70th minute.
Milan were dealt with a huge concern, as Nesta limped off the field in the 74th minute, and was replaced by Djamel Mesbah. Guardiola also decided to make a change, as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alexis-Sánchez-c4979.
The Catalan fans were surprised to see Fabregas not being asked to come on.
After a rough period, Barcelona started to find their attacking best. Tello found Messi in a dangerous position, and the striker let fly a powerful strike, but Antonini made a lovely lunge to deny him.
A minute later, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Carles-Puyol-c8331 connected a powerful header to Xavi’s cross from the corner, but the ball flew inches wide of the unguarded far post.
Antonini was turning out to be a hero for the Diavolo, as the defender made another brilliant diving tackle to deny Barcelona. Messi’s shot was parried away by Abbiati, but Tello looked to pounce on the rebound before being blocked
by Antonini.
The Catalans were denied a goal in a European game for the first time in 29 matches, as Milan’s resilient defending kept them at bay.
Milan: Abbiati; Bonera, Nesta (Mesbah 74), Mexes, Antonini; Nocerino, Ambrosini, Seedorf; Boateng (Emanuelson 67); Robinho (El Shaarawy 51), Ibrahimovic
Barcelona: Victor Valdes; http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniel-c9879 Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Puyol; Xavi Hernandez, Busquets, Keita, Iniesta (Tello 65); Messi; Alexis Sanchez (Pedro Rodriguez 76)
The second-leg will be played at the Camp Nou on Tuesday, April 3rd.
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