AC Milan v Barcelona

AC MILAN WILL be desperate for a home win over Barcelona in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the San Siro.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men were handed the tough draw of the defending champions, and a win on Wednesday is key in their bid to go through to the last four.

The Serie A leaders, who played out a draw and lost to Barcelona in the group stages of the competition, enter the encounter in fine form, unbeaten in four matches.

Allegri’s side have been guided by the excellent form of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who took his tally to 29 goals in all competitions with a brace in the 2-1 win against Roma on Saturday.

They continue to dominate in the league despite several injury problems, with Thiago Silva the latest concern.

Silva will miss a month with a thigh injury, joining Alexandre Pato, Ignazio Abate, Robinho and Alexander Merkel on the sidelines.

Mark van Bommel, who is missing with a back problem, is serving a one-match ban for the first leg.

AC Milan welcome a red-hot Barcelona side, with Lionel Messi in particular starring in recent outings.

Pep Guardiola’s men have won nine straight games in all competitions, seeing them close the gap on La Liga leaders Real Madrid to six points.

Argentine superstar Messi has been a standout, netting 12 times in their last five victories to take his tally to 55 this term.

The reigning champions are still without David Villa, although Alexis Sanchez and young gun Cristian Tello have filled the void.

Guardiola had the luxury of keeping gun midfielder Xavi on the bench in his side’s 2-0 win at Mallorca on Saturday, but the Spain international is a certainty to return against AC Milan.

Allegri’s side troubled Barcelona but were 3-2 losers when the teams met on November 23 last year, and he would love for his team to keep a clean sheet in their home leg.

A home win is almost a must if the Serie A champions are to progress to a semi-final clash with either Benfica or Chelsea.

Marseille v Bayern Munich

Mario Gomez, who has been in unbelievable form this season, celebrates another goal last weekend. Credit: Kerstin Joensson/AP/Press Association Images

Marseille must try to shake off an eight-game winless streak as they prepare for their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.

The club from the French south coast have not won since their round of 16 first leg against Inter Milan as they have plummeted to ninth in Ligue 1.

In fact, in that eight-game period, Marseille lost seven in a row, ending that run with a 1-1 draw against Nice on Saturday.

Playing away from home, Didier Deschamps’ side threw away a one-goal lead when Nice defender Luciano Monzon’s penalty cancelled out Andre Ayew’s goal.

Ayew is the clear star in Deschamps’ squad, providing creativity, speed and goals from midfield.

The 22-year-old Ghana international has been crucial in the Champions League, having scored four goals for Marseille, including the late winner in Marseille’s 1-0 victory over Inter on February 22.

Marseille face a tough test to continue their European adventure, with Bayern especially keen to make the final because it will be played at their home stadium in Munich in May.

Bayern are in ominous form having scored over six goals in three of their past five matches, including a 7-0 demolition of Basel in their Champions League round of 16 second leg.

Jupp Heynckes’ team is second in the Bundesliga and trail Borussia Dortmund by five points.

Bayern beat Hannover 2-1 on Sunday thanks to goals from Toni Kroos and Mario Gomez.

Gomez has had a brilliant season, averaging a goal a game for Bayern across all competitions, including 10 goals in seven Champions League matches.

The 26-year-old striker scored four against Basel and will be looking forward to taking on a Marseille side that has conceded an average of two goals per game over their last four matches.

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