Milan twice threw away a lead as Bayern Munich snatched a last-gasp equaliser to draw 2-2 at San Siro. Alberto Gilardino had a good goal disallowed and will be suspended for the second leg.
The Rossoneri welcomed back Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini from injury, but were without the cup-tied Ronaldo, so used Alberto Gilardino as a lone striker with support from Champions League top scorer Kaka. Bayern, who won here 2-0 earlier this season against Inter to end a run of six straight defeats on Italian soil, had Mark Van Bommel and Oliver Kahn suspended. The goalkeeper was banned for "improper conduct" during an anti-doping test.
The Germans lost to Milan 5-2 on aggregate last term, including a 4-1 scoreline at San Siro. The home side had a great chance after two minutes, as Gilardino flicked on a Marek Jankulovski cross with his head and Clarence Seedorf failed to tap in at the back post by a matter of inches. The ex-Parma striker couldn't quite get enough power on an Andrea Pirlo pass over the defence.
A hopeful long-range Bastian Schweinsteiger effort was comfortably smothered, but Milan were in control. On 14 minutes Massimo Ambrosini was allowed a free header on Massimo Oddo's corner and Michael Rensing performed a stunning - and fortunate - point-blank save with the crook of his elbow.
Bayern barely got out of their own half, but on 23 minutes Andreas Ottl unleashed a rocket from 30 metres that Nelson Dida tipped over the bar. Seedorf drilled just wide of the near post from the edge of the area.
Only Ottl had chances for the Germans from distance and future Juventus man Hasan Salihamidzic was booked for a tackle on Jankulovski. Kaka skipped past fellow Brazilian Lucio in the area only to see his progress cut short by Daniel Van Buyten. Nesta prevented Roy Makaay's cross from the right reaching Salihamidzic from eight yards.
Milan had a spectacular opportunity on 36 minutes. Nesta's searching pass sent Oddo running and his cross found Gilardino's diving header from six yards, but Rensing again performed an incredible save to deny him.
The Rossoneri had penalty appeals waved away for a Lucio tackle on Kaka, giving the corner though his studs only scraped the ball. It didn't matter, as from the resulting corner Pirlo sprung the offside trap on Oddo's floated pass and placed a delightful looping header over the stranded goalkeeper.
Van Buyten was dispossessed and Jankulovski smashed his shot just past the near top corner, although he had the space to progress into the area.
Gilardino thought he had made it 2-0 with a lob over Rensing, but the goal was disallwed for an incorrect offside position. To add insult to injury, he was booked for carrying on as he had not heard the whistle and will be suspended for the second leg in Munich.
Moments later Kaka didn't get a strong enough touch on Jankulovski's low cross and the ball dribbled across an open goal. The Brazilian wasted another promising chance when he spun round and had his shot charged down from seven yards.
Lucio intercepted a Seedorf midfield ball and immediately launched it for Roy Makaay, but Maldini stuck to him like glue and with a perfect challenge stopped the Dutchman clear on goal.
Oddo attempted the goal of the season with a spectacular right-foot volley that landed on the roof of the net.
Ottmar Hitzfeld introduced Christian Lell and Claudio Pizarro, while Pippo Inzaghi replaced Gilardino, the veteran greeted by a huge cheer from the crowd that had been jeering Gila.
Bayern had a period of sustained pressure for the first time in the game, but failed to trouble Dida. Inzaghi couldn't quite turn between two defenders inside the area.
Munich were pouring forward and took advantage of a Dida howler. The goalkeeper hesitated when the cross came for Pizarro and as he headed back Dida found himself in no man's land for Van Buyten to smack the easy finish in from five yards.
It was a bitter blow for a team that had dominated for so long and Schweinsteiger nodded over with a deflection off Maldini and Pizarro's header went wide from the corner.
Kaka sprinted into the area and Lucio went in for the tackle, cleanly getting the ball, but the referee pointed to the spot. It was a controversial decision, especially as Lucio's earlier challenge on Kaka was more of a penalty incident, but the Brazilian starlet took the kick and converted to restore Milan's lead. His seventh goal in nine games, Kaka consolidated his position as Champions League top scorer.
Yoann Gourcuff and Kakha Kaladze came on for Seedorf and Jankulovski in the final minutes. Rensing came out to anticipate Inzaghi, but Dida again rushed into no man's land and was fortunate Bayern did not take advantage.
The goalkeeper was again at fault when Bayern Munich scored a barely deserved equaliser in the final seconds of stoppages. The defence failed to clear a long free kick into the box and Van Buyten again was left unmarked to fire inbetween Dida and the near post from five yards.
