AC Milan held goalless in Prague
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PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- European champions AC Milan were held to a goalless draw at Sparta Prague in the first leg of their Champions League second round tie.
The Czech underdogs started brightly in freezing conditions and Milan keeper Dida was called into action on six minutes to block a shot from Jiri Stajner.
Milan dominated after the break but Sparta keeper Jaromir Blazek kept the Italians at bay.
Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko was twice foiled by Blazek's excellent positioning and quick reflexes.
Sparta were also unlucky not to go ahead on 51 minutes when Igor Glusevic found the back of the net, only for the effort to be ruled offside.
"For us to hold them to a draw is a good result, Even better is that it was a scoreless draw. It would be much tougher for us if we had of let them score an away goal, even if we ended up drawing in the end," said Sparta coach Jiri Kotrba.
Milan have scored just five times in nine European games since last season's quarterfinals.
"We had enough chances. We played well defensively, they didn't score so we take that as a positive and we're satisfied. We didn't lose and I think we outplayed them overall," said Milan's Brazilian defender Cafu.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was satisfied with his side's efforts.
"It was a nice game from the point of view of how we played, I thought. I actually feel a little bitter that we didn't win," he said.
"I feel we are on the way to the quarterfinals."
