Internazionale 0 - 0 Barcelona

Inter Milan 0-0 Barcelona

Updated: February 26, 2003, 9:47 PM UK

MILAN, February 26 (Champions League) - Barcelona crept closer to the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night as Inter Milan's prospects of joining them in the knockout phase were dented by a goalless draw in the San Siro.

The Spaniards dropped their first Champions League points of the season, but are now just a point away from joining Manchester United and AC Milan in the last eight.

They were hanging on at times, although Inter created few direct chances after Christian Vieri's early disallowed goal.

Barca had won all their 11 matches in the Champions League prior to their trip to Italy, and another would have established an all-time record for European competitions.

But they did not come to Milan thinking about records, with qualification the only thing on their minds.

Raddy Antic's Barca already look a tighter unit than the team of Louis van Gaal, who was sacked in January.

They were given an early fright though when Vieri drove the ball past Roberto Bonano and into the net, only to be given offside.

Barca striker Patrick Kluivert, who had an unhappy spell with AC Milan, was keen to make an impact on his return to the city.

He developed an early chance for himself but was unable to apply a punishing finish.

Mohamed Kallon and Kluivert collapsed in a heap after a collision, but both were proving dangerous in attack for their respective teams.

Inter's Kallon, a Sierra Leone frontman, volleyed just over the bar from 25 yards in the 17th minute, and then a Kluivert header called for Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo to be alert.

Barca's Gabri had a fine chance to open the scoring just after the half-hour mark, but he rifled the ball off-target after taking a Javier Saviola pass in his stride.

Antic, who had a volatile relationship with Vieri when both were at Atletico Madrid, knew all about the potential threat of the big Italian, yet the Barca defence were struggling to contain him.

Vieri should have broken the deadlock a couple of minutes after half-time but headed over from Giovanni Pasquale's right-wing cross.

For a while it was all Inter, as their crowd passionately urged them forward, and impressive midfielder Stephane Dalmat tested Bonano with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Vieri turned creator for Martins Obafemi, but the young Nigerian, on as a replacement for Dalmat, could not convert the chance from a tight angle, despite the goal being empty.

Failure to take those chances won Inter little favour with their supporters, and as time ran down their heckles and whistles grew in volume.

Kluivert or Gabri could have sneaked a win for Barca, who grew in confidence as their defence just about coped with the Inter threat.

But a point was what the doctor ordered, and Barca can now relax in Europe as their work for now is done.

Inter face a fascinating tussle with Newcastle for the second qualifying place from Group A.

After Newcastle's two victories over Bayer Leverkusen, they trail Inter by just a point now and the teams meet in a fortnight's time in Milan.

Sir Bobby Robson's team are resurgent in Europe and poker-hot in the Premiership, while Hector Cuper's Inter are losing their way somewhat.

An Inter win would take them through, but anything else would set up a tense final round of matches.