Barcelona v AC Milan preview

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani hopes Barcelona's "monster" has a night off as the Rossoneri bid to protect their two-goal Champions League lead at a hostile Camp Nou on Tuesday night.

Lionel Messi might have scored 40 league goals this season but the Argentinian forward has been a little more subdued in Europe, registering only five times and, more importantly, failing to notch a vital away goal at the San Siro in February.

But Galliani knows the three-time Ballon d'Or winner will be the spearhead of any Barca comeback in the last-16 second-leg clash.

"We can't go into the game thinking we'll be fine just because we've got a two-goal advantage," Galliani told Milan's official website.

"We are going up against the strongest team in the world who have a monster like Leo Messi who scores all the time. Let's hope he takes it easy on Tuesday night.

"One thing is certain - it will be another great challenge, an infinitely difficult challenge. It's always nice to play Barcelona but we will be going into an incredibly heated atmosphere."

Milan have suffered a blow after striker Giampaolo Pazzini, who has scored 13 Serie A goals this term, suffered a hairline fracture to his fibula during Friday's league win at Genoa.

However, the Italian giants are still able to select from an attacking pool of Stephan El Shaarawy, M'Baye Niang, Robinho and former Barca striker Bojan.

The Rossoneri also have concerns over the fitness of French defender Philippe Mexes, who could be replaced by Mattia De Sciglio, but first-leg goalscorers Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari are cleared to start in midfield.

Barcelona's influential midfielder Xavi has been passed fit to feature after missing the last two matches with a hamstring injury.

Acting coach Jordi Roura is expected to select an attacking line-up, with Barcelona unbeaten at home in 19 Champions League matches, and Xavi is optimistic of overturning a two-goal deficit.

Xavi told Barca's official website: "We still have 90 minutes, maybe even 120 minutes. A lot can happen in a match.

"We need to be careful, we can't lose possession, we need to avoid giving them any opportunities to counter-attack, we can't commit stupid fouls and our attacks need to have purpose.

"Our pride is a bit hurt from the unjust and excessive result from the away leg and we want to recover that sense of winning, of competing, of being a big team. There's no better match for that than the one against AC Milan. But we have to attack and score early."