Preview: Barcelona vs. AC Milan

For Barcelona to advance through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday night, they will need to find a way to overturn a 2-0 deficit that they picked up from the opening leg in Milan last month.

While many still regard the Spanish outfit to have a decent chance of emerging victorious, no side have ever salvaged a two-goal first-leg defeat without the benefit of an away goal.

However, Barca will be able to draw confidence from the fact that they have a positive record against their Italian counterparts at Camp Nou. They defeated AC Milan in the quarter-finals last season and at the semi-final stage back in 2006.

Having not featured from the start at the weekend for a variety of reasons, Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba and Victor Valdes are all expected to return to the team for the visit of Milan.

In contrast, the away side have injury concerns over Philippe Mexes and Kevin-Prince Boateng, but both have been deemed fit enough to travel and have been tipped to play some part.

Recent form

Barcelona: DWWWLW

AC Milan: WDWDWW

Possible starting lineups

Barcelona: Valdes; Alves, Pique, Puyol, Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas; Iniesta, Messi, Pedro

AC Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Zapata, Mexes, Constant; Montolivo, Ambrosini, Muntari, Boateng; Pazzini, El Shaarawy

Sports Mole says: 2-1