AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli, right, celebrates together with his teammate Riccardo Montolivo, second from right, Mattia De Sciglio, second left, and Bojan Krkic, of Spain, after score throughout the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Parma at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Milan had an awful start to the season and, lying 15th in the Serie A after eight matches, appeared to be heading for a relegation struggle instead of a title fight. Nevertheless, Milan has since risen to third - even though it continues to be 11 points behind head Juventus. Barcelona poses Milan's sternest test yet. It commands a wholesome double-digit lead in the Spanish group and is well on course to recuperate the domestic concept. Meaning it could devote all its focus on Europe's top opposition as it looks for its fourth name in nine periods. "We are doing Hamilton Academical Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, in action within a Spanish Manhunter Liga soccer match against Granada at Los Carmenes stadium in Granada, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Daniel Tejedor) Milan will be all season have been lost only twice by underdogs against a Barcelona side which in the league and in Europe. It'll be the sixth time the two teams fulfill in the Champions League at San Siro and Milan has only won one of those activities, in the group phase in the 2004-05 season. "I do perhaps not agree that we are favorites," It is the sixth time the two sides have met in two seasons. After a draw and a gain for Barcelona in the group levels last year, Massimiliano Allegri's group held the Spanish side to an enjoyable goalless draw at San Siro in the first leg of the quarterfinal before succumbing 3-1 at the Camp Nou. "We know they're the best team on the planet at this time and we know what difficulties we're going to face," Allegri said. "Against big teams like Milan, Real Madrid, possession is dominated by them, they've an average of 65 per cent possession, we've to try to be good and control that figure. We've to be good when we've the ball because Barca defensively can agree something." Milan is still waiting on the exercise of leading scorer Stephan El Shaarawy, who has been the club's most productive and effective person in 2010 with more than 2,000 minutes of game time yielding 17 targets. El Shaarawy came off in the pull against Cagliari with a knee injury but is back in education and Milan is confident the 20-year-old Italian will be fit to start. "El Shaarawy is back the class, training," Allegri said. "I can decide after practice what is the formation to begin with. He will start.", if he's good It will be special for Milan striker Bojan Krkic, who developed through the ranks at Barcelona, scoring 41 goals in 163 appearances. Mario Balotelli, who has netted four goals in three fits since his tumultuous Manchester City profession finished last month, will not be eligible to play because he has already represented his former team in your competitors. Xavi Hernandez is preparing to play after being sidelined the past a couple of weeks with a left leg damage. Striker David Villa, but, did not make the team after spending a week ago in and out of the hospital with a case of kidney stones. Opponent Adriano may also miss the game with a right knee injury. Barcelona will have Lionel Messi, however. "He is a important person for the staff, because of what he gives and provides, objectives, because he is decisive," Barcelona striker Pedro Rodriguez said. "If he is not there, you notice it. But I actually do not think we have problems with a dependence on Messi. "This is really a very good group and though some people be noticeable, you've to recognize that Messi has gone beyond any person. He's a key person with a great ambition, a person who wants to do better each day that goes on. We are dealing with figures that you may not imagine." Roura will be on the sideline with instructor Tito Vilanova receiving treatment in Nyc after having another cancer in two years taken from his neck in December. Without Vilanova, Barcelona has prevented a major drop in type.
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