The Catalan side knew that a goalless draw was enough, but they still broke forward whenever possible and could have increased their aggregate advantage in an enthralling 0-0 draw in Camp Nou .

The game started at a ferocious pace as Jaap Stam lifted the ball down Milan 's right for Kaká who outpaced Gio Van Bronkhorst before firing wide of the far post.

Barça quickly replied as Samuel Eto'o when he skipped past Alesandro Coastacurta and moved into the area only to see his effort blocked by the approaching Dida.

The Cameroon international had a second opportunity soon after and once again saw his route to goal blocked by the keeper, but this time the ball clipped off Dida's body and headed goalwards only for Costacurta to hook the ball over the bar.

Filippo Inzaghi, returning to the side after a virus, spurned to openings when he was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Rafa Márquez and then showed poor control as he chested down a through-ball.

Milan knew that they had to score and, while keeping things tight at the back, they also pushed forward in search of the vital opening goal.

Andriy Shevchenko saw his first chance of the night arrive when he beat the Barça offside trap, but could only fire into the side-netting while Inzaghi headed off target having connected with a cross from Andrea Pirlo.

Frank Rijkaard's team is laid out to attack and they pressed Milan at the other end as Juliano Belletti and Ludovic Giuly both fired shots across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

Before the interval, the visitors tried their luck from distance as both Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf saw shots fly high and wide.

Milan regrouped after the break and enjoyed a long period of possession, but still encountered problems penetrating the home side's rearguard.

One of their clearest chances came four minutes into the second period when Seedorf lifted the ball into the area, only for Shvechenko to see a diving header fall straight into Valdés' arms.

Ronaldinho was involved in Barça's following four chances as he sent two free-kicks straight at Dida and twice picked out Giuly at the far post with lofted balls, but on both occasions the French international failed to test the keeper.

At the other end Inzaghi again headed off target, while Cafú headed over the bar. Shevchenko then thought he had scored, but was adjudged to have fouled Carles Puyol when jumping to meet the ball.

In the closing stages substitute Henrik Larsson met Eto'o centre, but his header was pushed away when Dida made a point-blank save, before Deco sent his effort straight at the Milan custodian.

Barça's appearance in the showpiece final is no more than their glorious displays in the Champions League this deserve and they will be in confident mood of another attacking display against Arsenal next month in the French capital.

By LB in Camp Nou