Barcelona (1) v AC Milan (0) Camp Nou, 7.45: Advantage Barcelona. For all the cautionary words coming out of Catalonia the vast majority of the 98,000 in Camp Nou tonight can hardly conceive of anything but a place in the Paris final next month after a potential classic in their Champions League second leg with Milan.
Whatever the outcome, both parties agree this semi-final return could reach the heights never quite attained when Barcelona gained their 1-0 advantage at San Siro last week.
"It'll be a great game between two great teams," Frank Rijkaard said. "Everyone knows Milan are coming to give it everything and to beat us out of the tournament - but we're going for it too."
Milan's vice-president Adriano Galliano returned the compliment. "Milan can win at Camp Nou, although we are aware of the strength of Frank Rijkaard's team. For sure, it will be a great match."
Ronaldinho, whose inspired chipped pass brought Ludovic Giuly's well-taken goal in Italy, predicted that Barcelona will confront a different and more mentally daunting task tonight, aware of Milan's vast European experience and their ruthlessness in front of goal, which for once deserted them last week.
"We'll have to play with a lot of intelligence and forget about the result of the first match," said the Brazilian. "It will be more difficult and we will have to maintain full concentration."
The Italians believe Barcelona, given their advantage, will not commit themselves forward too much in the opening half-hour. "I think Barcelona will be as prudent as they were at San Siro," said Milan's coach Carlo Ancelotti. But Rijkaard parried suggestions that his team would play more conservatively. "We can't go into the game calculating."
Ancelotti said his side did not need "a miracle" but conceded they needed "something extraordinary" tonight to overhaul La Liga's leaders, seemingly growing in confidence with every Champions League game, in their own arena. His principal problem is the world player of the year. Ancelotti said they will mark Ronaldinho closer, although it was "impossible" to contain the free spirit altogether.
The team-sheets make more encouraging reading for Barcelona than Milan. Rijkaard is still without the inspirational forward Lionel Messi and has now lost the suspended Oleguer Presas from defence but can welcome back his Portuguese international midfielder Deco, who was suspended last week.
Barcelona rested at the weekend as Sunday's game at Sevilla was postponed because of torrential rain. Milan won 3-1 on Saturday at Messina, but at a cost of several injuries.
The biggest worry is Alessandro Nesta and Ancelotti was hoping to leave a decision on the central defender as late as possible. Kaka, like Nesta substituted early on at Messina, is a better bet.
Andriy Shevchenko, though still suffering a knock, issued a defiant message."You can't miss this match even if you're limping," the striker said. "Chances will come and we must be prepared to take them."
The Ukrainian is set to be partnered by Filippo Inzaghi, who was on an impressive goal streak before missing the last two games with a virus.
Zinedine Zidane said yesterday he would retire from football after the World Cup finals. "It's my decision and it's final," said the France and Real Madrid playmaker. The 33-year-old led France to victory in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
BARCELONA: Valdes; Belletti, Puyol, Marquez, van Bronckhorst or Silvinho; Deco, Edmilson, Iniesta or van Bommel; Giuly, Ronaldinho, Eto'o.
AC MILAN: Dida; Cafu, Alessandro Nesta Stam, Kaladze, Serginho; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaka; Shevchenko, Filippo Inzaghi.
Referee: M Merk (Germany)
