Barcelona make final

Wednesday, 26, Apr 2006 10:04

Barcelona will play Arsenal in the final of the Champions League after they held AC Milan to a 0-0 draw in the Nou Camp.

Ludovic Giuly's goal in the first-leg was enough to see the Spanish side reach the final in Paris next month but they should have won on the night as they dominated much of the game.

Despite this, Brazilian forward Kaka almost gave the Italian side the lead inside the first minute as he latched onto Jaap Stam's pass but his shot went narrowly wide.

However, Barcelona were always a threat going forward and Milan goalkeeper Dida was forced into a good block from Samuel Eto'o with 15 minutes gone.

Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko, the leading scorer in Champions League history, was Milan's biggest threat and he wasted a good opportunity midway through the first-half as he shot into the side netting.

He was given another chance four minutes into the second-half but he planted his header straight at Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes.

Juliano Belletti should have given the Spaniards the lead on 53 minutes when superb link-up play between Ronaldinho and Giuly created a chance for the right-back but he missed an open goal.

Cafu almost made an immediate impact from the bench as, having been on for just three minutes, he reacted quickest when Valdes dropped Serginho's cross but his header looped over the bar.

There were some nervous moments for the home crowd on 69 minutes as Shevchenko headed home, only for the goal to be chalked off for a foul.

Another substitute, Barcelona's Henrik Larsson, then came close to scoring with 16 minutes remaining but his diving header was well kept out by Dida.

Milan threw on Alberto Gilardino in the closing stages but they couldn't force a goal and it was Barcelona who hung on to reach their first European Cup final since 1994.