Barcelona strangled by AC Milan in shock defeat
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Barcelona's treble hopes were hanging in the balance after they were strategically outplayed in a 2-0 defeat by AC Milan in their Champions League last-16 first-leg match on Wednesday.
Second-half goals by Ghanaians Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari left Barcelona with a huge task in the second leg after a night when Lionel Messi was conspicuously quiet for the Catalans.
Barcelona were fuming about the first goal when the ball appeared to strike the hand of Cristian Zapata before it ricocheted into the path of Boateng to fire home in the 57th minute.
There was no doubt about the second, however, as Stephan El Shaarawy lifted the ball up for Muntari to volley past the helpless Victor Valdes with 10 minutes left.
La Liga leaders and Copa del Rey semi-finalists Barcelona, who failed to score for only the second time this season, dominated the first half in typical fashion but struggled to get past Milan's two lines of four defenders.
The Catalans' starting line-up featured 10 players from their youth academy and nine internationals with world and European champions Spain.
They were facing a Milan side patched together during the course of the season after a firesale of top players during the off season to help balance the books.
The contrast was apparent in the first half as Barca passed the ball around with amazing speed and accuracy with an almost telepathic understanding.
Milan's approach was much more haphazard as they struggled to string passes together, lost possession in key areas of midfield and thumped hopeful balls forward.
"The result is what it is. We had the game under control, although admittedly we didn't create too many clear chances and neither did they," Barcelona's interim coach Jordi Roura, standing in for Tito Vilanova who is recovering from throat surgery, told a news conference.
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