Pazzini ruled out of Barca clash

Giampaolo Pazzini has been ruled out of AC Milan’s Champions League clash with Barcelona on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old was forced off with a suspected ankle injury after scoring in his side’s 2-0 win over Genoa, with Mario Balotelli replacing him after just 22 minutes.

The striker is set for a scan to determine the full extent of the damage, but he will take no part in the last-16 second-leg clash with the Blaugrana, having been omitted from Massimiliano Allegri’s 22-man squad for the trip to Spain.

The news will come as a bitter blow to the Italian giants, with fellow forward Balotelli ineligible to feature also, meaning Stephan El Shaarawy and M’Baye Niang are the only recognised first-team forwards available for selection.

Pazzini has enjoyed an excellent run of form in recent weeks after a difficult start to his Milan career following his move from Inter, having scored six times in six victories in 2013.