Just about the only person not over-excited by Barcelona's 1-0 Champions League semi-final first leg win over AC Milan was the player who had done most to light up San Siro. Ronaldinho's sublime pass, which enabled Ludovic Giuly to score the winner, will remain long in the memory but the Brazil international had been shackled by the close attention of Jaap Stam and Gennaro Gattuso until the 57th minute.

"I had to be patient," Ronaldinho said. "I had to wait until Milan gave us a space and I managed to get rid of my marker [Gattuso] before serving Giuly, who finished it off superbly."

How easy Ronaldinho makes it sound. Gattuso did not give his opponent space, Ronaldinho created it with a moment of magic which helped to move the Catalan club one step closer to their first Champions League final since 1994.

"We have survived the first 90 minutes," Ronaldinho said. "I'm very happy because this win means a lot to us. To be able to beat Milan on their own pitch is a very good result. This can only motivate us for the second leg." However, showing a caution rarely evident in the way he plays, the World Player of the Year warned his team-mates that the 2003 European champions and last season's runners-up will not give in without a fight.

"We still have 90 minutes left to play and we must not forget it," Ronaldinho said. "We've done our job in Milan and now we must continue to be humble and work in a serious manner in order to do well and win titles."

Ronaldinho and Barcelona, who are 11 points clear of Valencia in La Liga, could go into next week's return leg at the Nou Camp having retained their Spanish title this weekend. "We're going through a very positive time," Ronaldinho added. "We have the opportunity to win the Spanish league next weekend and to reach the final of the Champions League. It would be a fantastic achievement."