Barcelona 3-1 Milan: Highlights As Barca Survive Scare To Cruise Into Semi-Finals [VIDEO]

Barcelona booked their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League after defeating Milan 3-1 at the Nou Camp to progress by the same scoreline on aggregate.

Barcelona scored through two penalties from Lionel Messi in the first half and a second-half strike from Andres Iniesta. Milan were briefly given hope when Antonio Nocerino made it 1-1. But, in the end, Barcelona comfortably prevailed as they seek to become the first club to retain the Champions League.

The home side took the lead in the 11th minute when they were awarded a clear-cut penalty. Milan defender Luca Antonini performed a desperate lunging tackle on Messi to bring the Argentinian down. With no contact even made with the ball it was one of the easiest penalty call you'll see.

With the resulting penalty Messi slotted the ball low to the keeper's right, even though Christian Abbiati went the right way.

But the goal did not really change Milan's task all that much. Because of the away-goals rule they still knew that one goal would send the Italian giants through.

Despite the daunting prospect of being behind at the Nou Camp, Milan continued to play positively. And they got their reward with an equalizer just past the half-hour mark.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic slid the ball through to midfielder Antonio Nocerino, who was being played onside by a lax Javier Mascherano. Nocerino took a touch before coolly sliding the ball low past Victor Valdes to give Milan the advantage in the tie.

But Milan were to be the architects of their of downfall once more as they gifted Barcelona another penalty in the final few minutes of the opening period.

This time vastly-experienced center-back Alessandro Nesta was the culprit as he was penalized for grabbing hold of Sergio Busquet's shirt, while defending a Barcelona corner. It is something the Italian 37-year-old has likely done thousands of times in his career without punishment, but on this occasion Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers elected to lay down the law for the infringement.

That meant it was Messi against Abbiati once more. On this occasion Messi went to the Italian's left, while Abbiati again went to the right, meaning Barcelona took a 2-1 advantage into the half-time interval.

And just eight minutes into the second half Barcelona assumed a commanding position in the tie with a third goal, through Andres Iniesta. Messi's shot from the edge of the area took a wicked bounce off a Milan defender and went right into the path of Iniesta and the Spanish World Cup winner took a touch before curling the ball into the far corner from close range.

FC Barcelona 3-1 AC Milan footyroom.com

by Futbol2101