GROUP H: Barcelona 2 AC Milan 2:THIAGO SILVA powered home a header in the second minute of stoppage time to snatch a draw for AC Milan at holders Barcelona in the heavyweight pair's Group H opener last night.
A sultry Nou Camp was stunned into near-silence after only 24 seconds when Alexandre Pato left the Barca defence for dead and beat goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
However, World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, Champions League top scorer the past three seasons, created an equaliser for Pedro in the 36th minute with a brilliant weaving run and cross and David Villa netted a superb long-range free-kick five minutes after the break.
Barcelona were apparently cruising towards victory when Brazil defender Silva leaped above the home defence and crashed a 92nd-minute header past Valdes.
BARCELONA:Valdes, Dani Alves, Mascherano, Busquets, Abidal, Keita (Puyol 67), Xavi, Iniesta (Fabregas 39), Messi, Pedro, Villa (Afellay 84). Subs Not Used: Pinto, Thiago, Maxwell, Adriano. Booked: Villa,Dani Alves,Puyol.
AC MILAN:Abbiati, Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta, Van Bommel (Aquilani 77), Nocerino, Seedorf, Boateng (Ambrosini 34), Alexandre Pato, Cassano (Emanuelson 62). Subs Not Used: Amelia, Bonera, Yepes, Antonini. Booked: Van Bommel, Nesta.
Referee:Martin Atkinson (England).
