AC Milan react to Barcelona complaint

AC Milan have released a statement defending their pitch following Barcelona's complaint to UEFA over the condition of the surface.

Barca lodged the complaint after Wednesday's goalless draw at the San Siro in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

However, Milan have claimed that the European champions were happy with the pitch when they trained on it on Tuesday.

The statement read: "In reference to the official protest presented to UEFA by Barcelona regarding the condition of the San Siro pitch, AC Milan communicates that:

"1) The watering of the pitch, to be done within one hour before the game as agreed in the organisational meeting yesterday morning (Wednesday) and as per the regulations of the UEFA Champions League in section 14.15, was not carried out because of the conditions of high humidity on the pitch.

"2) The general condition of the pitch, on which Barcelona had trained the night before without raising any questions, was deemed suitable by both match officials and delegates from Uefa during the site visit yesterday morning."

The two sides meet at the Nou Camp for the second leg on Tuesday.