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Bayern fight leaves Kaká frustrated

Just as parity reigned between AC Milan and FC Bayern München so it was honours even in Kaká's battle for midfield supremacy with Owen Hargreaves.

With the UEFA Champions League entering its final and crucial phase, the margins between success and failure are terrifyingly small.

Master tacticians 
One moment of genius can decide a tie, let alone a leg, and rival coaches are pulling out all the stops to limit the effect one player can have on a game. They are often prepared to sacrifice one of their own players in the overall scheme of things, detailing him to simply stop a gifted member of the opposition from playing.

Midfield maestro 
Kaká, the Brazil maestro, is one such player capable of turning a match on its head with a piece of brilliance. It was therefore no surprise to hear FC Bayern München coach Ottmar Hitzfeld highlight prior to the game the importance of thwarting the AC Milan kingpin, who has been the scourge of European defences. "Kaká is one of the world's best midfielders and he will be the key to this match," the German said. "I hope we will be able to put our theory into practice to stop Kaká."

Heavy burden 
The unenviable task of shackling the schemer from Sao Paulo was handed to Owen Hargreaves, the England international. By resting his midfield dynamo against Bundesliga leaders FC Schalke 04 at the weekend, Hitzfeld showed how highly he values Hargreaves and the part he had to play at San Siro. The 26-year-old repaid his manager's faith by countering the threat of Kaká during the first half, although one lapse in concentration almost allowed Kaká to open the scoring.

Deadlock broken 
Andrea Pirlo's eventual breakthrough did force Bayern to come out of their shells, which in turn created more room for Kaká to weave his magic. Though not enough according to the man himself, who said: "It was difficult for me all night. I had to keep swapping wings to find some space." The Germans' bold approach in search of a route back into the match was rewarded with an equaliser from Daniel Van Buyten, even if Kaká would still leave his mark on proceedings. The 24-year-old's driving run down the inside left channel drew a foul from Lucio and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. After a lengthy delay, the nerveless Kaká sent Bayern keeper Michael Rensing the wrong way, coolly planting the ball into the bottom-right corner for his seventh UEFA Champions League goal of the season - moving him above Real Madrid CF's Ruud van Nistelrooy at the top of the competition scoring chart.

Late twist 
Kaká must have thought he had done enough to give his side a one-goal buffer to take to Bavaria next week but Bayern, and Van Buyten in particular, had other ideas. Displaying the tenacity and determination that are a feature of Hargreaves' play, Bayern fought back once more to equalise with a second strike from the Belgium defender. It was a goal that ensured parity on the night - and honours just about ended even in the duel between Kaká and Hargreaves too. The two will go head to head again next Wednesday, when the outcome of their battle could well decide who makes it through to the semi-finals. "It will be very difficult for us over there," Kaká admitted, "but we are used to this kind of challenge."

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