AC Milan 0-0 Barcelona: Barcelona kept at bay in Milan

A series of sublime Barca attacks produced no end product, while Milan had, but wasted, by far the better openings in the match. The hosts managed to shut out Lionel Messi in red-hot form, though, to give themselves hope for the second leg at the Nou Camp.

Messi, one goal shy of 50 in the competition, gained some unwanted attention from a laser pen as he lined up a free-kick on the edge of the area, but could only blame the turf as he slipped while taking it, with Seydou Keita was offside as he tried to head in the unintended cross.

Barca should have had a penalty when Alexis Sanchez fell over Abbiati after beautiful play from Xavi and Sergio Busquets, but the Chilean perhaps went over too easily and was told to get up.

Barca were passing the ball about at speed and forcing passes through seemingly impossible gaps, but they continued to stutter when it mattered, with Messi offside as he tapped in an Alves cross, while Abbiati denied Xavi.

Amid it all, a first-time ball from Clarence Seedorf put Zlatan Ibrahimovic clean through, but goalkeeper Victor Valdez raced out to make a fine save at point-blank range.

Sanchez then looked to have broken clear, but Luca Antonini did not give it up and made a brilliant recovering tackle to prevent the shot.

The second half failed to capture the imagination in quite the same way. Andres Iniesta cut in from the left to send an early shot wide, but it was hardly a sign of things to come

AC Milan: Abbiati,Bonera,Nesta (Mesbah 74),Mexes,Antonini, Nocerino,Ambrosini,Seedorf,Boateng (Emanuelson 67), Robinho (El Shaarawi 52),Ibrahimovic. Subs: Amelia,Aquilani,Maxi Lopez,Yepes.

Barcelona: Valdes,Dani Alves,Pique,Mascherano,Puyol, Iniesta (Tello 65),Busquets,Xavi,Keita,Messi,Sanchez (Pedro 76). Subs: Pinto,Fabregas,Thiago,Muniesa,Montoya.

Att: 70,628 Ref: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden).