Barca take giant step towards final

Tuesday, 18, Apr 2006 09:59

Barcelona have taken a giant step towards reaching the final of the Champions League after they beat AC Milan 1-0 in the San Siro.

Ludovic Giuly's second-half goal gave the Spanish side a vital away goal to take back to the Nou Camp for the semi-final second-leg next Wednesday.

However, it was Milan who began the brighter and could have been two up inside the first 15 minutes.

First on 14 minutes, Alberto Gilardino held off the challenge of two defenders to strike the inside of the post with an angled left-footed shot from the corner of the six-yard box.

Then within a minute, Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf broke down the left and swung in a tantalising left-footed cross and Andriy Shevchenko's snap-shot from ten yards forced an instinctive save from Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

However, Barcelona came into the game more and Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho began to show his class with some scintillating touches.

None more so than 13 minutes into the second-half when he created a goal for Giuly out of nothing.

Gennaro Gattuso looked to have the Brazilian covered but after some fancy-footwork, he chipped an inch-perfect ball for the Frenchman's penetrating run and he smashed the ball home from a tight angle on the half-volley.

Ronaldinho then came within millimetres of adding a second as his 20-yard shot six minutes later hit the post and rolled across the face of goal.

Milan needed to respond and Gilardino was presented with a decent opportunity when Kaka squared for him but he put his shot wide under pressure from the Barcelona defence.

Massimo Ambrosini had a good opportunity with seven minutes to go but he rushed his shot and dragged it wide and Milan captain Paolo Maldini forced a good save from Valdes with a powerful header.

However, Barcelona held on to take a massive advantage back to Spain.