AC Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo has cited his side's preparation as the reason for their win over Barcelona in the Champions League.

Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari both struck in the second half at the San Siro to give the Serie A outfit a 2-0 victory in the first leg of their last-16 meeting on Wednesday.

The Italian international believes that his side did well to cope without the ball during the tie.

"It went well," Montolivo told ESPN.

"We were prepared for them to keep possession, and therefore we shut down the spaces to make it sterile."

The two square off at the Camp Nou in three weeks' time.