Barcelona were unhappy with the pitch during the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Milan on Wednesday.

The surface wore easily during the clash, which ended in a scoreless draw, and Barcelona officials aired their grievances during a post-game meeting with UEFA representative Mikalai Varabyov.

Milan issued a public riposte on their official website in which they claim that Barca raised no concerns over the pitch after training at the venue prior to the match.

"In reference to the official protest presented to UEFA by Barcelona regarding the condition of the San Siro pitch, AC Milan communicates that:

"1) The watering of the pitch, to be done within one hour before the game as agreed in the organisational meeting yesterday morning (Wednesday) and as per the regulations of the UEFA Champions League in section 14.15, was not carried out because of the conditions of high humidity on the pitch;

"2) The general condition of the pitch, on which Barcelona had trained the night before without raising any questions, was deemed suitable by both match officials and delegates from Uefa during the site visit yesterday morning."

The second leg of the tie takes place at Camp Nou on Tuesday.