Marcus Christenson on More Misery for Italian Football

Just like their owner, the Milan players are refusing to give up what seems to be a lost cause. While Silvio Berlusconi refuses to accept that he lost the Italian election, Carlo Ancelotti's men have not yet given up on reaching the Champions League final despite losing the first leg at home to Barcelona.

'The result of the first leg will allow us to go to Camp Nou and attack,' Ancelotti said after Barca's 1-0 win. 'We had more chances than them, we just didn't take them. In fact, I didn't think they [Barcelona] were that thrilling. I saw a team which was well organised and which kept possession well.

'To put it this way: Barcelona aren't at their best when they have to defend and with a result like this in the first game they can't come out with their guns blazing.'

The 46-year-old is clutching at straws. Barca have been faced with a similar scenario in the past two rounds and progressed comfortably on both occasions. Against Chelsea, they also won narrowly away, but were always in charge of the second leg at Camp Nou, which finished 1-1 after a late Frank Lampard equaliser. In the quarter-finals, they drew 0-0 away to Benfica before defending superbly and attacking responsibly to win the home leg 2-0.

Barca have won four out of their five home European games this season, scoring 15 goals in the process. Milan, meanwhile, have won one out of their five away games, drawing with Lyon, Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich and losing to PSV Eindhoven on their travels.

Milan's defeat last week has only increased the misery surrounding Italian club football. There is racism, violence, match-fixing, dwindling attendances and failure in Europe. Juventus and Inter were eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the Champions League and no Italian club reached the last eight of the Uefa Cup. 'Things have definitely got worse,' said Inter coach Roberto Mancini after his players were attacked by fans following the defeat against Villarreal. 'No one seems to have any fun anymore. It makes you want to go abroad.'

The gloom is set to deepen at Camp Nou on Wednesday. Milan do not appear to have the weapons needed to unlock Frank Rijkaard's well-drilled defence. Andrea Pirlo has looked subdued in recent weeks and the full-backs used last Tuesday - Serginho, Jaap Stam, Paolo Maldini and Cafu - lacked the speed to deal with Ronaldinho and Ludovic Giuly. Alberto Gilardino has not scored in Europe this season and Clarence Seedorf lost the battle with his compatriot Mark van Bommel in midfield.

Barcelona will be even stronger than at the San Siro as Deco is back from suspension. The Portuguese playmaker adds another dimension to Barca's attacking game while also contributing defensively with his ceaseless running. Henrik Larsson may return from injury to give Rijkaard another option up front.

Marcus Christenson