AC Milan are being forced to use all their resources in order to keep pace with Juventus in the Serie A title race with just six games remaining. Milan lined up with 14 players missing when they travelled to Chievo in midweek and it was testament to their courage and determination that they came away with a narrow, and perhaps undeserved, 1-0 victory.

That ensured they kept the gap to leaders Juve to a single point ahead of this weekend’s games. The champions may get a couple of players back for the visit of Genoa, the team with the worst defensive record in the league, but midfielder Antonio Nocerino insists they will keep fighting whatever happens.

Titleholders Barcelona will have to again face seven-times winners AC Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals after a draw which also cleared the way for a final against their eternal rivals Real Madrid. Rank outsiders APOEL Nicosia, taking Cypriot football into unchartered territory, were handed a glamorous last-eight tie against Real as they continued what chairman Phivos Erotocritou described as “a dream.”

Bayern Munich, whose 7-0 demolition of FC Basel in the last 16 made them another team to be feared, must overcome Olympique Marseille if they want to keep up their hopes of reaching the May 19 final in their own Allianz Arena.

AC Milan survived an almighty scare against a rejuvenated Arsenal to scrape into the Champions League quarterfinals 4-3 on aggregate on Tuesday despite being thrashed 3-0 by the London side who almost pulled off mission impossible.

Milan’s 4-0 win in the San Siro left Arsenal with a five percent chance of survival, according to manager Arsene Wenger, but his team struck three times in a barnstorming first half to threaten the greatest of European Cup escapes. The Serie A champions were shocking in the first half as goals from Laurent Koscielny, Tomas Rosicky and a Robin van Persie penalty meant their lead all but evaporated.

Manager Arsene Wenger apologised to Arsenal’s supporters on Friday for the abject 4-0 midweek defeat at AC Milan in their Champions League first knockout round first leg.

“The fans were absolutely fantastic in Milan and we can only say sorry,” the Frenchman told reporters on the eve of the FA Cup fifth-round visit to Sunderland (1715 GMT). “Tomorrow there will be another fight and we want them to be on our side. I am sure they will be,” added Wenger.

AC Milan may be without star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic for their crunch title-decider against Juventus on February 25 but bianconeri coach Antonio Conte believes that will not hinder the champions. Ibrahimovic was dimissed in Sunday’s league match against Napoli for slapping Salvatore Aronica in the face. He was handed a three-match league ban and even though he will be available, although perhaps rested, for Wednesday’s Italian Cup semifinal, first-leg, he will definitely miss the crucial scudetto encounter in less than three weeks from now.

But Conte doesn’t believe that will pose a problem for Milan, despite Ibrahimovic’s obvious importance. “I have a lot of esteem and admiration for a player who is capable of deciding a match,” said Conte.

Inter Milan is full of optimism following an emotional derby win over AC Milan that is helping the club forget its dismal start to the season.

With six consecutive victories, the Nerazzurri have climbed from 15 points behind to trail Serie A leader Juventus by six points approaching the season’s midpoint.

Inter remains at the San Siro this weekend to face fourth-place Lazio, the squad that is only one point above it in the table.