Luca Antonini's determination proved vital as AC Milan held FC Barcelona to a 0-0 draw at San Siro and the left-back said: "I'm happy and proud about the way I played and we played".
A timely tackle from Luca Antonini proved crucial in allowing AC Milan to hold FC Barcelona 0-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final and the Player speaking with UEFA.com: "I'm happy and proud about the way I played and we played."
The Rossoneri were forced to defend for almost the entire first half at San Siro but the visitors created one of their biggest opportunities when Alexis Sánchez sprinted unmarked towards the Milan goal from the midfield on 35 minutes. Antonini refused to give up and recovered brilliantly to catch the Chilean forward in time to block his shot against onrushing Christian Abbiati.
It was just one of several notable contributions in a great night for the 29-year-old left-back. "I saw Sánchez starting his run and fortunately I was prompt enough to start running just after him," Antonini said. "He is very fast but I managed to take him.
After my tackle I celebrated as if I had scored a goal because I think it was an important action at a key moment of the game."
Despite leaving most of the possession to Barcelona, Milan had good opportunities themselves to score in the first half, one after three minutes when Robinho fired over from close range, the other when Víctor Valdés denied Zlatan Ibrahimović in a one-on-one situation.
"It was a tough game but we managed to close down spaces and counter-attack well Antonini explained. "Unfortunately we did not manage to score with the opportunities we had.
"If think it was a strange game as both sides had good chances to score but both failed to take them," Antonini continued. "I think our chances were even bigger than theirs. We prepared well for the game, we knew how to face them and we did it in the best possible way. We played better in the second half, showing that our physical condition is good. We are getting some players back from injuries and we can only get better."
Milan will need to earn at least a score draw at Camp Nou next Tuesday to reach the semi-finals without recourse to penalties. Easier said than done but at least it is something they have already achieved this season when a late equaliser by Thiago Silva salvaged a point in their opening group game after Barcelona come from behind following Pato's first-minute goal.
"I think we will have to play a similar kind of game," Antonini said. "We will have to defend well and try to score at least one."
Ibrahimović missed that game in September due to injury so he is ready to return to Camp Nou for the first time since leaving Barcelona in 2010. "We had some good chances in the first half tonight but we failed to score," the Sweden striker said.
"Still, I think the 0-0 draw is a good result for us.
I will not have to tell my team-mates anything about what to expect at Camp Nou because they have already been there this season. We will have to try playing our own game, I'm positive we can go through."
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