Barcelona v AC Milan: Will Barcelona Make history Tonight by Qualifying?

No team has ever bounced back from a two-goal loss in the first-leg without having scored an away goal

Barcelona are in danger of missing out on the Uefa Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2006/07 after suffering a surprise 2-0 first-leg defeat which has jeopardised their European hopes this season.

To recover from their defeat in Milan will not be an easy feat, in fact Barça will have to make history to progress. No team has ever bounced back from a two-goal loss in the first-leg without having scored an away goal. Despite that defeat to Milan and two painful losses to rivals Real Madrid in the league and cup, confidence is high ahead of tonight’s mission to overturn the reverse.

Former Manchester United defender Gerard Pique believes home advantage can help Barça: “I have a feeling that we can do it.

“I honestly believe that we have the team, the talent and the players to make it to the next round. We're going up against one of the big teams in Europe, AC Milan, who have a long history of winning the Champions League and the Italian league.

Full-back Dani Alves shares his teammate's confidence: “We have spectacular players, so I don't think this tie will be decided until the referee blows the final whistle. We're very confident in our team and the players we have.”

Barcelona Thrash Milan 4-0 To Reach Q/Finals



World Footballer of the year Lionel Messi, David Villa and Jordi Alba last night completed a great escape for Catalan giants Barcelona to reach the last eight in the Champions League.

The Blaugrana produced a magnificent comeback at home to recover from a 2-0 first-leg deficit and book their place in the last eight of the Champions League. Barcelona marched into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-0 victory over AC Milan in the second-leg of their round of 16 clash at Camp Nou.

The Catalans were tipped for an early exit from the competition after a 2-0 reverse in Italy, but became the first ever team to recover from that same first-leg scoreline with a display that showcased the best of their awesome attacking quality.

Lionel Messi needed only five minutes to open the scoring in sublime fashion, before putting his side level on aggregate with his second goal shortly before the interval.

David Villa put Barca 2-0 ahead and levelled the tie before half-time, and Jordi Alba added the clincher in the last minute of injury time as Milan, despite a late improvement, could have little complaints about the result.

Xavi recovered from a hamstring injury in time to start in the hosts’ midfield, while Villa and Pedro were the ones chosen to line up alongside Messi in attack.

Meanwhile, with Giampaolo Pazzini injured and Mario Balotelli ineligible, the Rossoneri lined up with M’Baye Niang, Stephan El Shaarawy and Kevin-Prince Boateng up front.

Barca were dominant right from the first whistle, and were rewarded with the opening goal on five minutes, when Messi linked beautifully with Xavi for a one-two, and curled an equally sublime effort in from the edge of the box.

Galatasaray also progressed ahead of Schalke with a 4-3 aggregate.

The German side mounted a brave second-half effort, but were ultimately unable to overcome the Istanbul side, who claimed a famous away win

Galatasaray progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League thanks to a 3-2 away win against Schalke. Roman Neustadter put the hosts ahead early on, but goals from Hamit Altintop and Burak Yilmaz turned the game on its head. Michel Bastos equalised after the break, but a third goal proved to be a step too far for Jens Keller’s side, and Nordin Ambrabat ended the contest in second-half stoppage time.

With Galatasaray needing to score thanks to Schalke’s away goal three weeks ago, they came out of the blocks the quicker of the two teams, with Hamit and Didier Drogba firing wide in the early minutes.

Timo Hildebrand was then forced into two good saves in quick succession, denying the Cote d’Ivoire striker after some superb skill and palming wide from Selcuk Inan, who had been sent clear.



-- Leadership