Champions League: AC Milan shock Barcelona

Contrary to the expectations of many, goals from Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari gave AC Milan victory over Barcelona, with the Italian side now having a huge chance of making the Champions League last eight.
The Rossoneri defended in numbers and the two former Portsmouth players struck twice in the second half.
Boateng turned and fired in following a free-kick, before Muntari’s close-range volley nine minutes from time.
Andres Iniesta fizzed a shot off target as Champions League favourites Barca had a subdued night.
Carles Puyol also headed wide following Muntari’s first Champions League goal, but chances were only occasional for stand-in coach Jordi Roura’s side as they slipped to their third defeat of the season.
It was a tactical masterclass by the hosts, who sprung a surprise result based on a tight, disciplined display in the first period but became more expansive after the break.
That said, Barcelona, who are top of La Liga by 12 points, lacked their usual creativity.
Lionel Messi was only involved sporadically and they paid for continually attempting to cut through the heart of the Milan defence.
The Italian club’s excellent central midfielders, Riccardo Montolivo and Massimo Ambrosini, ensured that path was closed, and the win gives Milan a great opportunity to avenge last season’s Champions League quarter-final defeat by Barcelona.
Back then, the two teams shared a 0-0 draw at the San Siro before the Catalans won 3-1 in the second leg, and on this evidence the four-time European Cup champions will need to significantly raise their game to get a repeat result at Nou Camp on March 12.

Results

UEFA Champions League
AC Milan 2-0 Barcelona
Galatasaray 1-1 Schalke 04

English League Championship
Leeds United 2-0 Blackpool
Johnstone’s Paint Trophy
Southend United 2-2 Leyton
Crewe 0-2 Coventry City

South African Premiership
Free State Stars 1-0 Maritzburg
Amazulu 0-0 SuperSport United
Bidvest Wits 2-1 Chippa United
Black Leopards 1-2 Kaizer Chiefs
Orlando Pirates 1-0 Silver Stars
Pretoria 0-1 Moroka Swallows

Fixtures
Feb 21
UEFA Europa League
5:00 PM – FK Rubin Kazan vs Atletico Madrid
6:00 PM – Cluj vs Inter
6:00 PM – Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk vs FC Basel
6:00 PM – FC Metalist Kharkiv vs Newcastle United
6:00 PM – Lazio vs Borussia Monchengladbach
6:00 PM – Lyon vs Tottenham Hotspur
6:00 PM – Genk vs Stuttgart
8:05 PM – Benfica vs Leverkusen
8:05 PM – Bordeaux vs Dynamo Kiev
8:05 PM – Chelsea vs Sparta Prague
8:05 PM – Fenerbahce vs BATE Borisov
8:05 PM – Hannover 96 vs Anzhi Makhachkala
8:05 PM – Liverpool vs Zenit St Petersburg
8:05 PM – Olympiakos vs Levante
8:05 PM – Steaua Bucuresti vs Ajax Amsterdam
8:05 PM – Viktoria Plzen vs Napoli