Milan: After successfully frustrating Lionel Messi and Barcelona, AC Milan believe they can oust the title-holders in the second leg of their Champions League quarter final at the Nou Camp next week.

Messi was harried, hounded and pushed by the Milan defenders who often used a rotation system, where defenders take it in turns to give away free kicks, to bring his trademark runs at the heart of their defence to an abrupt end.

Despite playing at home and managing only 38 per cent of possession, coach Massimiliano Allegri was delighted with Wednesday’s 0-0 draw and, above all, the commitment of his side.

“I’ve always said that I’m lucky enough to train a great group of professionals and even the players who aren’t on the pitch, even the ones who watch from the stands, they’re always ready when they’re called upon,” he said.       

While Barca could not net any goals, Bayern Munich put one foot in the last four with a clinical 2-0 victory in Marseille. However, five yellow cards and a suspension for Bastian Schweinsteiger left coach Jupp Heynckes fuming.

Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos, David Alaba and Anatolyi Tymoshuk joined Jerome Boateng and Thomas Mueller on a list of players who would miss a game if they receive another yellow, while Schweinsteiger will be suspended for the return leg.

“I’m happy with the game but I’m not with the five yellow cards we received. That’s too many,” Heynckes said.

Dutch winger Arjen Robben shone on a bright night for Bayern at the Stade Velodrome by setting up the first goal for Mario Gomez and scoring the second.

Shifting focus to the Milan-Barcelona game, Massimo Ambrosini, standing in for the intimidating Mark van Bommel in midfield, Luca Antonini and Alessandro Nesta, who replaced the injured Thiago Silva at the heart of the defence, were excellent as Milan, seven-time European champions, held firm.

Nesta seemed happy to accept a yellow card as the price for ending one of Messi’s runs and Milan believe they can sneak an away goal next Tuesday. “This draw should give us trust and courage,” said Ambrosini. “There was the right spirit tonight, before, during and after the match. We’ll go to Barcelona with trust in ourselves.”

When Barcelona did get through, they were foiled by Christian Abbiati, who pulled off several outstanding saves in the Milan goal.

Messi also had to struggle with a dreadful San Siro pitch, at one point slipping as he went to take a free kick.

Barcelona, in fact, have lodged an official complaint with organisers UEFA about the state of the pitch, where players continually slipped on the surface and chunks of turf came loose at regular intervals.

Barcelona are expecting that Milan will again defend doggedly next week at Nou Camp, knowing that if they can sneak an away goal from a counter then Barca’s hopes of retaining the title will be all but over. (Reuters)