After admitting that his side have not been at the height of their powers this season, AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti described Tuesday night's UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against FC Bayern München as the "perfect chance" to salvage their campaign.



'Huge incentive'
Although the Italian giants have found it difficult to keep up with Serie A's frontrunners this term, according to Ancelotti the visit of the German title-holders to San Siro is a huge window of opportunity. "This season has been really hard going with lots of ups and downs," said the 47-year-old. "We haven't played as well as we can for numerous reasons. We've had problems but now we have reached the last eight of the Champions League, we have the perfect chance to put matters right. It's a huge incentive."

Good results
Both Milan and Bayern enjoyed creditable weekend results. The former came from behind to draw 1-1 at second-placed AS Roma thanks to Alberto Gilardino's second-half effort, while the latter won 2-0 at home to Bundesliga leaders FC Schalke 04. The Rossoneri, sixth in Serie A, started poorly at the Stadio Olimpico and Ancelotti knows his team can ill afford such sluggishness against Bayern, particularly in light of Roy Makaay's habit of lightning strikes. The Dutch forward scored the fastest goal in UEFA Champions League history against Real Madrid CF in the last round, and was at it again on Saturday, breaking the deadlock after just three minutes before Hasan Salihamidžić made the match safe. "We must start better than we did in Rome," said Ancelotti. "We must show better athleticism, aggression and desire – and with Makaay around let's hope we win the kick-off."

Italian optimism
There is cause for Italian optimism, however, given that Milan have a near full complement of players available, including Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta and Filippo Inzaghi, while Bayern will be missing goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and midfielder Mark van Bommel, both suspended. The hosts have also won 15 of their last 18 UEFA Champions League home games and, crucially, have a 100 per cent record against Bayern, whom they defeated 4-1 (5-2 on aggregate) at the last-16 stage last term.

Sweet memories
"We have great memories of last year," reflected Ancelotti. "We played excellently at home and hope to do so again. Kahn is the symbol of their side and Van Bommel is also a first-team regular, so their absence could weigh against them." This is not a theory shared by his opposite number. "We've known for a while that we'd be without those two but we have great replacements," said Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. "Michael Rensing has played well in goal for us, while on Saturday I rested Owen Hargreaves and Andreas Ottl was superb against Schalke.

'Intense encounter'
"This season both teams have had good and bad times domestically, and this competition is an opportunity for both of us to show what we're made of," he continued. "I'm expecting a very intense encounter, and he who holds his nerve and plays better on the night will succeed." Bayern can take heart from improving domestic form – they are within six points of the Bundesliga summit – as well as their most recent result at San Siro, a 2-0 home victory over Serie A champions-elect FC Internazionale Milano on Matchday 2.

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