Barcelona Keeps on Rolling

Barcelona qualified for the final in the UEFA Champions League. Yesterday night, on Camp Nou Stadium, Rijkaard's team managed to keep a clean sheet, becoming the second finalist after Arsenal on Tuesday. Ronaldinho was again the man of the match, managing some sensational crosses and dribbles to give the home fans something to cheer for.

The game started off with a surprise. Or two. Both Kaka and Cafu started at AC Milan, after allegedly suffering from injuries before the game. So the Kaka-Ronaldinho clash took place again. Milan had a chance earlier in the game, but Shevcenko missed the post from the right-hand side of the Catalan penalty area. Barca responded later with a wonderful team effort, which brought Camerun`s Eto`o face to face with AC Milan goalkeeper Dida, but the goalie saved it at the last second. The game then turned into a struggle for the midfield, Barca being the more aggressive team. The second half brought nothing new to the game, AC Milan waiting for Barca attacks in order to strike on the counter-attack. It was so when Shevcenko scored past Valdes, but Markus Merk didn't allow it, since he considered that the Ukrainian fouled Puyol before firing the header.

"It was absolutely legal. He jumped and hardly touched Puyol," said coach Carlos Ancelotti afterwards. There were no better chances for Milan till the end. On the other hand, Barcelona went close to finishing off in big style, after Belleti wasted a great pass from Giuly. The same Giuly was cheered minutes and minutes after being substituted with Henrik Larsson. The Swedish had a great header in the last minutes of the game, but Dida was there to save it again.

"It feels good - we are very happy to be in the final. If you qualify it has gone as planned, so we are satisfied. We had to work really hard for it, but at the moment I am thinking nothing about the final," said Rijkaard at the press conference. The victory against Milan can be considered a revenge taken by the Catalans for the 4-0 loss in the final of Champions League in the 1994 season.

Milan officials had to settle for less. After the thrilling final from last year, a second blow was given to Carlo Ancelotti. "As in the first leg we looked for the win, we created some things and of course gave them some opportunities as well. The team did everything that I wanted from and that they could do. The only regret is that we weren't able to get the goal we deserved," confessed Ancelotti. The only thing left to do for Milan is to focus on the Series A title, where they're 3 point behind Juventus with 3 matches to go. Their next game in the domestic championship will be on Sunday, at San Siro Stadium, when they'll face 8th seed Livorno.

Barcelona will now face Arsenal in the final of the UEFA Champions League that will take place on Paris, at Stade de France Stadium, on the 17th of May.