Barcelona, Milan eye top spot in CL clash

Milan: AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is relishing the chance to face former team Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The tall Swede missed the opening match at the Nou Camp in September, a 2-2 draw, because of injury. But he'll be healthy this time.

"I was looking forward to that match," Ibrahimovic said. "I was disappointed, but for me playing against a former team is nothing personal. Of course it's emotional, a big game, but in the end it's like any other game. There's no need to over-hype it."

Ibrahimovic spent only one season at Barcelona after a much-hyped move from Inter Milan in 2009, in a deal which saw Samuel Eto'o go the other way. He scored 16 goals in the Spanish league but often struggled to fit into Barcelona's intricate passing schemes.

"We will be playing against the best team in the world, without doubt," Ibrahimovic said. "Even when I left the team, I knew I'd left the best team in the world. But, for me and all the other parties involved, I think the best solution was to leave the club. Given the results for both sides, it was the best solution."

Ibrahimovic described an expletive-ridden outburst directed at Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola in his autobiography and also blamed him for not achieving all he could at the Spanish club.

Guardiola played down their disagreements and insists he will have no problem greeting Ibrahimovic.

"I think these things are spontaneous, but of course I'll greet him if I see him," Guardiola said. "He helped us a lot when he was at Barcelona. He's formidable in what he's done in Italian football and what he's doing, and that doesn't change just because he might not have liked me."

"I don't have any problem with Ibrahimovic and I don't see why we wouldn't shake hands. What we won't do is organize a press conference to show that we'll greet each other."

Milan drew 1-1 with BATE Borisov last round to sit two points behind Group H leaders Barcelona with two games left to play. Both teams are already through to the knock-out stages.

"Milan are a team which will kill you on the counter-attack. We have to watch out for that," Guardiola said. "They are very strong, especially with Ibrahimovic up front, who is a very strong player."

"We need to have an almost perfect game otherwise we won't win. There is no point in going for the draw. People at the stadium and watching on TV want to see a good game. Also, we're going to meet good teams later in the competition and we need to be ready."

Ibrahimovic has scored in the three European matches he has played for Milan this season, and another good performance from the Sweden striker could see the Italian side jump ahead of Barcelona.

"I think this game is more about prestige," Ibrahimovic said. "It's good to come first, but sometimes it's good to come second. Both can be positive or negative."

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said he and his teammates are unconcerned about facing Ibrahimovic on the pitch.

"That is no extra motivation for us, we don't need any," Puyol said. "This is one of the best games, one of the most important. I think anyway Ibra was proud to be at Barca and he has said that before."

"It's an important match. We want to win. (Finishing) first means to play the second leg at home in the next round and that is always important. In any case, we always go out to win. A draw might mean that we'll pass as winners but we always go for the win."

Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova is recovering from surgery on a salivary gland, and Puyol said that instead would serve as an added motivation.

"We only knew this morning. It was difficult news, hard to hear," Puyol said. "We want to send our support to him and his family. We want to dedicate this match to him, so it is even an extra incentive to do well."

Milan will be boosted by the return of Alexandre Pato from injury. The Brazilian played his first game in two months in the goalless draw against Fiorentina over the weekend and hit the post in the 77th minute.

"I don't have major doubts about the team," Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said on Tuesday. "I have to decide who will start between Pato and Robinho, and in midfield evaluate how fit (Clarence) Seedorf is this afternoon."

Barcelona extended their unbeaten start to the season to 20 games with a 4-0 win over Zaragoza on Saturday.

"It's difficult to play against Barcelona," Allegri said. "Because the players have skills and they can change the rhythm of the game, they are good at upping the pace or making the game slower."

"We will have to be very balanced, we'll need to play a bit higher up the pitch and make sure Barcelona have less of the ball."

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has a bruised left thigh and has not travelled as a precautionary measure.

Barcelona are also without fullback Adriano and the suspended Daniel Alves. Pedro Rodriguez could play for the first time in a month after recovering from an ankle sprain.

In the other group match, BATE will host Viktoria Plzen. BATE have two points, one more than Plzen.