Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o (right) from Cameroon fights for the ball with AC Milan's Clarence Seedorf during the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at Nou Camp yesterday. The game ended 0-0 and Barcelona advanced to the final against Arsenal 1-0 on aggregate. - REUTERS
BARCELONA (Reuters):
BARCELONA REACHED the Champions League final for the first time in 12 years yesterday after a goalless home draw with six-time winners AC Milan sent them through deservedly 1-0 on aggregate.
Leading 1-0 courtesy of Ludovic Giuly's goal in the San Siro, Ronaldinho-inspired Barcelona were in a positive mood from the start, but squandered a host of chances.
Dida saved well from Samuel Eto'o twice in the first 20 minutes, Juliano Belletti failed to connect in front of goal early in the second half and Dida did well to block a close-range header by substitute Henrik Larsson in the 75th.
The misses did not matter however, as Milan, seeking their third final appearance in four years, looked second best throughout.
Andriy Shevchenko put an early chance into the side netting and had a 69th-minute headed goal controversially ruled out for a push on Carlos Puyol that had the visiting bench protesting wildly.
But Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes did not have a serious save to make all night and the Italian side can have few complaints over the two legs.
In the May 17 Paris final Barcelona will meet Arsenal, who also advanced 1-0 on aggregate after a goalless draw at Villarreal on Tuesday, reaching the final for the first time.
Barcelona's final appearance was a 4-0 defeat by Milan in 1994, two years after they had beaten Sampdoria for their solitary success in Europe's top club competition.
