Goals from Kevin-Prince Boateng
and Sulley Muntari secured AC
Milan a deserved 2-0 win in the
first leg of their Champions
League last-16 tie against
Barcelona to leave the Liga giants with a mountain to climb. Boateng broke the deadlock on
56 minutes at San Siro with a
smart finish on the turn, as Barca
appealed in vain for a handball in
the build-up. And Milan claimed a second with
nine minutes left on the clock
when Stephan El Shaarawy helped
a ball onto Muntari, who fired
past goalkeeper Victor Valdes. Elsewhere, Jermaine Jones' strike
in the last minute of the first half
gave Schalke a slight advantage
as they drew 1-1 at
Galatasaray . Jones calmly slotted home after
Jefferson Farfan had squared the
ball to him to give the German
side a vital draw at the Turk
Telekom Arena, although Schalke's
goalscorer will miss the second leg after picking up a booking. Burak Yilmaz had earlier put Gala
in front with a piece of individual
brilliance but they could not
extend their lead in a
breathtaking first-half in which
both teams failed to convert several glorious opportunities. The second half was decidedly
less open, although Yilmaz nearly
gave the hosts a slender lead
heading into the second leg but
could only fire wide of the target.

Elsewhere, Jermaine Jones' strike
in the last minute of the first half
gave Schalke a slight advantage
as they drew 1-1 at
Galatasaray . Jones calmly slotted home after
Jefferson Farfan had squared the
ball to him to give the German
side a vital draw at the Turk
Telekom Arena, although Schalke's
goalscorer will miss the second leg after picking up a booking. Burak Yilmaz had earlier put Gala
in front with a piece of individual
brilliance but they could not
extend their lead in a
breathtaking first-half in which
both teams failed to convert several glorious opportunities. The second half was decidedly
less open, although Yilmaz nearly
gave the hosts a slender lead
heading into the second leg but
could only fire wide of the target.