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| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
AC MILAN  Abbiati Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Antonini Nocerino, Van Bommel, Aquilani Boateng Ibrahimovic, Pato | BARCELONA  Valdes Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Abidal Busquets, Xavi, Fabregas Sanchez, Villa, Messi |
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri will be without the services of Antonio Cassano who is recovering from heart surgery while Philippe Mexes is still nursing a broken wrist.
Alexandre Pato came on as a substitute in the goalless draw against Fiorentina at the weekend and could be handed a starting role up front in Wednesday's encounter.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola faces a selection headache at right-back as Dani Alves is suspended and Adriano is injured. Carles Puyol could slide over to full-back and Javier Mascherano to the centre of defence to compensate for the Brazilian duo's absence.
Andres Iniesta will miss the crunch clash with a thigh strain, but Pedro recently returned from an ankle problem and could see some action off the bench.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
AC Milan have only won three out of their last 10 home games in the Champions League.
- Massimiliano Allegri's men have won six out of their last eight matches in all competitions.
- The Rossoneri have picked up two wins at San Siro against Barca in the Champions League (W2 D1 L2).
- Alexandre Pato scored the fifth fastest goal in the history of the competition (24 seconds) at Camp Nou in the 2-2 draw on September 13, 2011.
- Barcelona have scored more goals than any other club in this season's tournament so far (13).
- The holders have succumbed to only one defeat in their last eight Champions League encounters away from Camp Nou.
- The Blaugrana's overall record against Italian teams in Europe is W5 D6 L5.
- Pep Guardiola's side have outscored their opponents 9-0 in their last two away matches in Group H.
Prediction
Both teams are already assured of a place in the round of 16 but will battle hard nonetheless to advance as group winners. Their first match in September ended in a thrilling draw and more of the same can be expected at the Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday.
Editor's Prediction
AC Milan 1-1 Barcelona 
