UEFA Champions League preview: Barcelona v AC Milan

11 March 2013 15:30

AC Milan will be looking to complete one of the upsets of the Champions League season when they travel to Barcelona on Tuesday.

Massimiliano Allegri's side head into the round-of-16 return leg with a 2-0 aggregate lead after goals from Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari handed Milan victory in last month's first leg at the San Siro.

Despite their aggregate lead, Milan's progression into the quarter-finals is by no means assured against a Barcelona team who have not lost at home in the Champions League in three years and will come out with all guns blazing.

Milan will not be without confidence having gone undefeated in their last 10 matches with their 2-0 win away to Genoa on Friday the perfect preparation for Tuesday's match.

However, they will be without striker Giampaolo Pazzini who suffered a micro-fracture to his right fibula in the Genoa game after opening the scoring for his side.

With Pazzini a constant threat in the first leg and fellow striker Mario Balotelli cup-tied, the absence of key attackers will put greater pressure on the seven-time European champions' defence.

Barcelona have hit a rare spell of bad form recently, not only going down to Milan in the first leg of the tie but also losing twice to bitter rivals Real Madrid in one week.

A comfortable 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga on Saturday will have calmed the nerves circling the Camp Nou.

Interim coach Jordi Roura, deputising while Tito Vilanova undergoes cancer treatment, warned his men are up for the challenge against Milan.

"We are very clear how we will play against Milan, and how they want to play us. We are psyched," he said after Saturday's win.

Barca will be buoyed by the return to fitness of key midfielder Xavi, who completed a training session on Sunday after being out with a hamstring strain and should have their full array of attacking talent to choose from.

Although Milan are in a strong position thanks to their heroic first-leg performance, they will have to be at their defensive best to hold one of the best club side's the world has seen at bay for another 90 minutes.

Whatever happens, Tuesday's game promises to be an enthralling finale to the tie.