AC Milan 2-2 Bayern Munich FT

By Andrew McKenzie

606: DEBATE Give your thoughts on the game

"Benitez has a superb continental approach that seems to work on the European stage but has its drawbacks with inconsistent league performances. Well done the Scousers."
xenosys2005 on 606

"It was comfortable, easy and if anything it should have been more - four or five maybe. The only thing you can say is PSV had players playing out of position but it shouldn't matter. The first 15 minutes of the second half were highly embarrassing. It should be a comfortable night at Anfield and I expect Liverpool to win then."
Five Live summariser and ex-Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby

PLAYER RATER: Steve Gerrard remains way out in front in your player ratings, with a current mark of 8.5 out of 10. There is still time to have your say on tonight's heroes and zeroes in the Philips Stadion.

2135: FULL-TIME PSV Eindhoven 0-3 Liverpool
Liverpool would have been happy to keep this tie tight and get an away goal. They come away with three goals and combined with a clean sheet means they are well on their way to the semi-finals. A job well done by Rafa and his men but Arsenal fans will be kicking themselves after seeing this sort of performance from the Dutch, who knocked them out in the previous round.

2135: FULL-TIME AC Milan 2-2 Bayern Munich
There is barely enough time for Milan to kick off and Bayern have snatched an unlikely draw thanks to two goals from Daniel Van Buyten.

2134: GOAL AC Milan 2-2 Bayern Munich
Late, late drama from the San Siro as the goal machine Daniel Van Buyten scores an equaliser three minutes into stoppage time. The Milan defence makes a hash at dealing with a hopeful long ball into the box and Van Buyten shows the finishing skills of an accomplished striker to drill home from a narrow angle.

2132: He might have words with striker Dirk Kuyt, who goes into the book after having a few words with the official. He'll miss the return leg at Anfield - although with this tie possibly all over it might not be a bad thing.

2131: Reds boss Rafael Benitez is not taking this result for granted. The Spaniard is out of his area barking instructions.

2129: You'll Never Walk Alone is being belted out by the few Liverpool fans fortunate to get hold of tickets for the game.

2127: We have four minutes left at the Philips Stadion and Liverpool are still throwing men forward. Steven Gerrard is driving them forward as usual, but Mark Gonzalez wastes a promising position when he opts to fire in a long-range shot which is over the bar.

2125: GOAL AC Milan 2-1 Bayern Munich
Kaka is not about to pass up these sort of decisions as he slots comfortably past Michael Rensing and Milan are back in front.

2123 PENALTY: Lucio and Kaka collide in the box again and again the defender takes the ball with a perfectly-timed challenge. Referee Yuri Baskakov, however, has other ideas as he awards a spot-kick.

2118: GOAL AC Milan 1-1 Bayern Munich
Never write off those Germans, although there is not much German influence on the goal as Hasan Salihamidzic (Bosnian) crosses for Claudio Pizarro (Peru) to head down for Daniel Van Buyten (Belgian) to score.

2116: Milan look the most likely to add to the scoreline over at the San Siro, where the game has slowed up considerably. Milan replace Alberto Gilardino, who has been getting it from the boo boys, with Filippo Inzaghi. Bayern don't look like scoring.

2114: Fabio Aurelio goes off on a stretcher and his evening is over, hopefully it is not as serious as it looks. Mark Gonzalez comes on for the Brazilian with Boudewijn Zenden slotting in at left-back.

2112: A worrying moment for Liverpool as Fabio Aurelio goes down clutching his right calf. He wasn't being challenged so he looks like he has pulled a muscle.

2111: It is still tight over at the San Siro. AC Are holding out in true Italian fashion. You won't see any PSV-like capitulation from the Rossoneri. Well not until the Champions League final anyway perhaps.

2108: This was expected to be a tight affair but Liverpool could make sure with another goal or two the way things are going. They need to be careful of not slipping though, as Xiang Sun thrashes a shot well off target from a good position.

2107: John Arne Riise's work is done as he is replaced by Boudewijn Zenden. A deflated PSV make their final change with Jan Kromkamp replaced by Csaba Feher.

"Peter Crouch didn't even need to jump to win that header. That was poor defending yet again by PSV."
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby on Five Live.

2102: GOAL PSV Eindhoven 0-3 Liverpool
Liverpool look to have a foot in the Champions League semi-finals as Steve Finnan is given space down the right and he stands a cross up for Peter Crouch to meet with a firm header past Gomes.

2059: Ronaldo Koeman is looking as miserable as sin on the PSV bench. A sight the whole of England will no doubt enjoy. Xabi Alonso attempts to make his evening even worse with a long-range lob but it is just off the mark.

2058: The way PSV are defending it looks like they have brought on a bunch of school boys at the back. Liverpool almost get a third following some more hesitancy at the back.

2055: In all of the early second-half drama I neglected to tell you that PSV replaced Jefferson Farfan with Xiang Sun. They have also now made a second change with Patrick Kluivert coming on for Edison Mendez.

2054: Milan should have had a second when Marek Jankulovski crosses for Kaka and the brilliant Brazilian should really have done better.

2052: Milan have the ball in the net through Alberto Gilardino but it is chalked off for offside. To make matters worse Gilardino is booked for putting the ball in the net and he will miss the next match.

2049: GOAL PSV Eindhoven 0-2 Liverpool
It gets even better for Liverpool as some more shocking defending from PSV sees John Arne Riise pick up the ball 25 yards out and thrashes a peach of a left-foot shot past a stranded Gomes.

2046: The games are back under way and Liverpool are straight on the attack, helped by some comical defending from PSV. Gomes comes out flapping but fails to collect a Liverpool cross and Xabi Alonso slices a shot that stays in play. Then when Dirk Kuyt puts the ball back in Alonso is again off target with a shot.

"Mascherano looks very impressive again. Out of all the cash coming Rafa's way, I hope there's enough of it put aside for Jav's permanent signing. The lad reeks of absolute quality."
RedSam2006 on 606

2039: Obviously it is a bit too early to be planning for the semi-finals, with at least 135 minutes of football still to go in these ties. But if you need any reminding and Liverpool were to go through they will face the winners of the Chelsea-Valencia tie in the final four. AC Milan or Bayern will face the winners of the Roma-Manchester United tie.

2030: Not even a second of stoppage time in either game as the first halves come to an end.

2028: Jefferson Farfan appears to be felled by Jamie Carragher just outside of the box but the PSV forward handles the ball on the floor and is penalised for it, much to the disgust of the home fans.

2025: GOAL AC Milan 1-0 Bayern Munich
AC are off the mark when Massimo Oddo swings in a cross for Andrea Pirlo and he beats the offside trap and plants a well-placed header into the top corner.

2024: Cries for a penalty when Lucio challenges his Brazilian Kaka in the box but he appears to get a piece of the ball.

2023: Javier Mascherano gets a yellow for a bit of a cynical foul to bring a promising PSV move to a halt.

2020: Michael Rensing pulls off another blinding save to keep Milan at bay. Massimo Oddo's cross finds Alberto Gilardino but Rensing again manages to get a body part in the way. Who needs Oliver Kahn?

2017: It has all gone a bit cagey at the San Siro. Bayern's Hasan Salihamidzic enters referee Yuri Baskakov's notebook after clipping the ankles of Marek Jankulovski.

PLAYER RATER: You must have seen that coming. Steven Gerrard was already leading the way for Liverpool on Player Rater - now watch that bar fly off the chart!

2014: That is Steven Gerrard's 15th goal in the European Cup, taking him above former striker Ian Rush as the club's most prolific in the competition. Well done Stevie G.

2012: GOAL PSV Eindhoven 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool get that potentially priceless away goal. Steve Finnan swept in a nice cross from the right and Steven Gerrard climbed above Dirk Kuyt to power a lovely header into the bottom corner.

2011: The home fans in the San Siro are getting impatient as AC Milan struggle to break down these pesky Germans.

2010: Timmy Simons must be a good six inches short of Peter Crouch but the PSV central defender is dominating the big man in the air.

2008: It's livening up at the Philips Stadion. Phillip Cocu picks out Mika Vayrynen who is close to breaking the deadlock.

2006: At the other end Peter Crouch gets his first sniff at goal but his ambitious shot is a touch high and wide to test Gomes.

2004: Carlos Salcido has a pop at goal for PSV from the left touchline and it is well struck but into the side-netting. He'd have needed some serious Roberto Carlos-esque swerve to have beaten Pepe Reina from there.

2001: Gomes tries to outdo Rensing with a stunning save at the Philips Stadion as he flings himself to the left to pull off a great save and deny Jamie Carragher's powerful header.

1959: Milan are close to an opener when Massimo Oddo's corner finds Massimo Ambrosini but his header is kept out by a fine reaction save Michael Rensing.

1957: Peter Crouch is not having much joy so far. Saturday's hat-trick hero is being kept well under control.

1954: It's been pretty uneventful so far. PSV and Liverpool just look like they are checking each other out in the early stages, with neither team taking any chances. Milan are in control of things at the San Siro but Bayern have so far limited their attacking threat.

1951: PSV are looking the livelier so far and Jamie Carragher takes no chances as he puts the ball out of play from a dangerous ball forward.

1949: Milan have started well with Alberto Gilardino just failing to control a chipped ball over the top and it goes out for a goalkick.

1948: Chances at both ends. Milan go close to breaking the deadlock when Alberto Gilardino's cross almost picks out Clarence Seedorf, while at PSV Mika Vayrynen drills a wayward shot well over.

1947: It is a nervous start in Eindhoven as Jamie Carragher slices a clearance but PSV cannot take advantage.

1945: The action is under way at the Philips Stadion and the San Siro - bang on time.

1941: According to England international and BBC Sport columnist Owen Hargreaves, Bayern have a suitable replacement in back-up keeper Michael Rensing.

1937: German international Kahn was banned for one game after being found guilty of improper conduct by Uefa after losing his cool with a doping control officer. Apparently he threw his urine sample across the room following their win over Real Madrid in the previous round. Not sure whether that was a second yellow card or a straight red.

1934: Bayern's hopes have not been helped by the absence of their legendary keeper Oliver Kahn.

1931: Bayern Munich and AC Milan met in the knockout stages of the competition last year, with the Italians going through 5-2 on aggregate. Bayern have lost all four European ties away to AC Milan.

1929: But PSV face Liverpool tonight having lost to the Reds already once this season in the competition. Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch got the goals in a 2-0 win at Anfield in November. The two clubs shared a goalless draw at the Philips Stadion in September.

1926: That's enough of the history lesson, it is all about tonight and PSV are presently the only side left in the Champions League who are champions of their country and top of their own league.

1922: PSV might not be able to match up to the other three in terms of European titles, but domestically they can. They have been champions of the Dutch league 19 times, compared to AC Milan's 17 and Liverpool 18 titles. Bayern have been champions of Germany on 20 occasions.

1919: But proudest of all is AC Milan, who have six European Cup wins to their name. Their last triumph was in 2003 when they beat Juventus at Old Trafford. Guess what, they also did it on penalties.

1917: Liverpool have gone one better than Bayern by winning the trophy five times. Their last win, of course, was just two years ago when they beat Milan on penalties in Istanbul.

1914: Bayern have won the tournament four times and finished runners-up on three occasions. The last time they won it was in 2001 when they lifted the trophy after beating Valencia on penalties at the San Siro, where they will be in action tonight.

1911: PSV's one triumph came in 1988 when Guus Hiddink's side beat Benfica 6-5 on penalties in the final at Stuttgart after the game finished 0-0. Strangely enough they made it through their quarter-final and the semi-final ties without winning a game, seeing off Bordeaux and Real Madrid on away goals.

1910: Between them, our awesome foursome tonight have collected 16 European Cups.

1909: And then there were eight. The Champions League quarter-finals get under way tonight and we have four teams with a proud record in the tournament to get us started.

Liverpool make three changes from their 4-1 hammering of Arsenal at the weekend. Alvaro Arbeloa, Jermaine Pennant and Mark Gonzalez make way for right-back Steve Finnan, left-back John Arne Riise and striker Dirk Kuyt.

PSV: Gomes, Kromkamp, Da Costa, Simons, Salcido, Mendez, Vayrynen, Cocu, Culina, Farfan, Tardelli. Subs: Moens, Kluivert, Addo, Feher, Sun, Marcellis.

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Aurelio, Crouch, Kuyt. Subs: Dudek, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Gonzalez, Pennant, Bellamy, Zenden.

AC Milan left-back Paolo Maldini returns after a knee injury, while Bayern Munichbring in Michael Rensing for suspended keeper Oliver Kahn while Andreas Ottl will attempt to fill the hole left by the banned Mark van Bommel.

AC Milan: Dida, Oddo, Nesta, Maldini, Jankulovski, Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Kaka, Gilardino. Subs: Kalac, Cafu, Kaladze, Inzaghi, Gourcuff, Bonera, Brocchi.