Diego PetrucciItalian Football Blog

Barcelona managed to progress into the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the expense of the Italian club AC Milan, who almost knocked out the Spanish club. Milan managed a stunning 2-0 win over Barcelona in the first leg at the San Siro. They came into the second leg at the Camp Nou looking to hold out onto the significant advantage and progress to the quarter-finals. However, they were simply outclassed by a brilliant Barcelona team, as the Argentine superstar Lionel Messi scored two goals to set them on their way. Allegri, though, has said that Milan could have given them a great chance had they taken the chances that came their way.

Even though Milan were defeated 4-2 on aggregate, the Italian team could have easily progressed on the away goals rule had their scored just before the fourth and final goal for Barcelona from the defender Jordi Alba. Milan had a couple of chances in the match, while their best was the attempt from M’Baye Niang. He managed to strike the post when the score was just 1-0. It could have easily changed the complexion of the match, as it meant Barcelona would have had to score three goals. As it is, Allegri and his men now exit the competition.

“For a matter of a few centimetres, maybe if Niang had scored, we would be here talking about a different game. After we went 3-0 down we still tried to pressure them and we managed to create chances. But when you are playing Barcelona and you have around five or seven opportunities to score you have to take them. Milan tonight played a worse match than the first leg and in the first half an hour they did not let us play,” said Allegri, as he prepares to focus on the league campaign.