FC Barcelona News: 29 March 2012; Barça Held to Scoreless Draw in Milan, Thiago's Yellow Card Withdrawn

Milan 0-0 Barcelona: lots of little battles | Zonal Marking
0-0 is always an interesting first leg result. Does it favour the side playing the second leg at home, or the side who know a score draw in the second leg will take them through? Both coaches can learn lessons from this game ahead of next week’s re-match: Barcelona must stretch the play on both sides, Milan must use their second striker more effectively. Barca remain favourites.

Xavi: "We were superior, we dominated but we didn't finish the match off" | FC Barcelona
"We had many chances to score. We tried with long possessions but we weren’t able to capitalise on the chances we created. It’s a shame," said Víctor Valdés. Carles Puyol added that Milan is a team with "dangerous players" and that the game "was very difficult." According to Xavi, his team was "superior, we dominated the game but we didn't finish off the match."

Barca file San Siro complaint - Soccerway
"FC Barcelona has lodged a complaint with UEFA over the state of the pitch at the Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) stadium during the Champions League match," the club announced on its website. Barcelona brought up the issue during the post-game meeting with UEFA representative Mikalai Varabyov.

Guardiola: "Our fans cannot let us down on Tuesday" | FC Barcelona
Josep Guardiola urged FC Barcelona fans and members to attend next week’s Champions League showdown with AC Milan: "Our fans cannot let us down on Tuesday. They need to come to the stadium and carry us to the semi-finals. These players have done too much to be abandoned. This Tuesday we have a final in our stadium with our people. We need the Camp Nou to be full. We have a chance to go through and between us all I believe it’s possible."

Puyol equals Migueli's record of 549 official matches for FC Barcelona | FC Barcelona
The captain Carles Puyol played his 549th game in the Barça strip tonight and he draws level with the legendary Barça players Miguel Barnardo Bianquetti as the player with the second most games for FC Barcelona. The Azulgrana defender made his debut on October 2nd 1999 when Van Gaal included him in the squad against Valladolid.

Awesome Ambrosini and Antonini - who would have thought it? Injury-ravaged AC Milan produce heroic display to keep Champions League dream alive - Goal.com
AC Milan should have had no chance against Barcelona on Wednesday night taking into account their long list of unavailable first-team squad members, but some heroic performances from unlikely sources ensured that they head to Camp Nou on Tuesday for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie still in with a chance of upsetting the odds.

The Competition Committee withdraws Thiago Alcántara's yellow card | FC Barcelona
The Competition Committee of the RFEF announced that the second yellow card shown to Thiago Alcántara in the game against Mallorca has been withdrawn. Therefore, the red card that the player received is also void and Barça will be able to name the Spanish-Brazilian midfielder to the squad against Athletic Club.

Milan rule out Silva sale | Sky Sports
AC Milan have insisted that Thiago Silva is not for sale amid speculation of fresh interest in the defender from Barcelona. The Brazil international has been linked with a string of European rivals over the past 12 months, with Barcelona rumoured to be considering a summer bid. However, with Silva under contract at the San Siro until 2016, Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani says any enquiry from Barcelona would be given short shrift.

Di Maria to return from injury against Osasuna - report - Goal.com
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has received some encouraging news from the treatment room ahead of Saturday's Liga game away against Osasuna as winger Angel Di Maria is set to return from injury after a spell on the sidelines, Marca reports.The 24-year-old has been out of action since February 18 due to a niggling thigh problem, but recently resumed squad training and is ready to return to match action.

Mourinho hints at Inter return | Sky Sports
Jose Mourinho has left the door open for a sensational return 'home' to Inter Milan after admitting he could manage them again in the future. "Inter are my home and one day I could come back. I'm a supporter and like all the other supporters I'm sad, but I hope next season will be better for them.