Clarence Seedorf limped off in the first half Photos from Amsterdam

Ajax and AC Milan shared a goalless stalemate in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final to leave the Italians favourites to reach the last four of the competition.

Despite some high quality passing and goal chances for both teams, neither side could find the net but Milan will be the happier with the home leg to come on 23 April.

Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko forced Ajax keeper Bogdan Lobont into a fine save with a fierce shot after just five minutes.

Milan were forced into making a substitution after 26 minutes when former Ajax player Clarence Seedorf, who was injured in a tackle with Ajax full back Hatem Trabelsi was replaced by Serginho.

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After Milan suffered that setback, Ajax gained the upper hand for a while and a back pass from Alessandro Costacurta put his own goalkeeper Dida under pressure from the chasing Ajax forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Gennaro Gattuso picked up the first yellow card of the match for hauling down Ajax's American midfielder John O'Brien which means Gattuso will miss the second leg.

Milan dominated for much of the second half but the midfield failed to create much for forwards Filippo Inzaghi and Shevchenko to capitalise on.

When Ajax did come forward veteran Milan defender Paolo Maldini and his fellow defenders - especially Alessandro Nesta - thwarted them at every opportunity.

The winners of this tie will play either Inter Milan or Valencia in the semi-finals early next month.

Ajax: Lobont, Trabelsi, Chivu, Pasanen, O'Brien, Galasek, Pienaar, Maxwell, Yakubu, Van der Vaart, Ibrahimovic.
Subs: Didulica, Bergdolmo, De Jong, Witschge, Sneijder, Litmanen, Boukhari.

AC Milan: Dida, Maldini, Nesta, Simic, Costacurta, Gattuso, Rui Costa, Seedorf, Ambrosini, Shevchenko, Inzaghi.
Subs: Abbiati, Helveg, Laursen, Serginho, Brocchi, Rivaldo, Tomasson.

Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway).