SOCCER: AC Milan 0, Barcelona 1 One allegation that could never be levelled at Ronaldinho is that he does not rise to the big occasions. The greatest footballers tend to shine at the right moment and Ronaldinho did not need Barcelona's fluorescent-yellow away kit to stand out as the pivotal figure of an intense night.
The leaders of La Liga are now overwhelming favourites to progress to the final, possibly against Arsenal, and their number 10, predictably, was the catalyst of their victory.
The name of Ludovic Giuly will go down in the record books as having contributed the game's decisive moment, but it was Ronaldinho's exquisite assist that will linger in the memory.
The upshot is that Arsenal will have to work out what many people believe is virtually impossible, namely how to restrain the greatest player in world football, should England's last representatives manage to navigate a safe passage beyond Villarreal in their own semi-final.
Milan versus Barcelona is undisputedly one of the great occasions in world football and the San Siro did not disappoint, a seething, fire-cracking kaleidoscope of bias. Neither side, however, could justify their lofty reputations throughout an opening half in which Alberto Gilardino struck a post and Andriy Shevchenko forced a splendid save from Victor Valdes.
There was even that collector's item, the unforced Ronaldinho error.
Temporarily, the Brazilian's smile was wiped from his face as he suffered the ignominy of mis-controlling a simple ball to concede a throw-in. He was soon making amends, dribbling past Rino Gattuso as he if were going past cones on the training ground.
With a player like Ronaldinho in their midst, nobody could ever accuse Barcelona of negativity, but there were undeniably ploys of conservatism for long spells, with Samuel Eto'o frequently isolated in attack.
The worry for Milan is that their opponents will be far more adventurous in Catalonia, when Deco will be back from suspension and Lionel Messi has an outside chance of returning from injury.
Ronaldinho was forced to wave an apologetic arm after another aberration early in the second half. His display had been littered with careless passes in the opening 57 minutes. But them came the moment that turned this semi-final in Barcelona's favour.
Again, Gattuso was tricked before the world footballer of the year clipped a sublime pass for Giuly to score with a left-foot volley from a tight angle.
Ronaldinho's showboating kicked in soon after, as if he were trying to make up for his subdued start. One surge just after the hour ended with him clipping the upright with a low shot from 20 yards. And another wonderful through-ball put in Eto'o, only for the Cameroonian to fire narrowly wide.
Milan, with one last push, committed more numbers into attack and had chances to equalise, but overall Barcelona looked the more composed and dangerous team. The clearest chance fell to Kaka in the final minutes but the Brazilian rushed his shot and missed from inside the area.
If Arsenal overcome Villarreal, Europe will await an exhilarating final, one in which Ronaldinho would take star billing.
AC MILAN: Dida, Stam (Cafu 77), Kaladze, Nesta, Serginho, Gattuso (Ambrosini 73), Pirlo (Maldini 67), Seedorf, Kaka, Shevchenko, Gilardino. Subs not used: Kalac, Rui Costa, Vogel, Amoroso. Booked: Nesta.
BARCELONA: Valdes, Oleguer (Motta 75), Puyol, Marquez, Van Bronckhorst, Edmilson, Van Bommel, Iniesta, Giuly (Belletti 70), Ronaldinho, Eto'o (Maxi Lopez 89). Subs not used: Jorquera, Ezquerro, Sylvinho, Gabri. Booked: Puyol, Valdes. Goals: Giuly 57.
Referee: Bruno Coue (France),
