Barcelona secured top spot in Champions League Group H with a thrilling 2-3 victory over AC Milan in the San Siro.

A myriad of talking points dominated pre-game coverage, but only one threatened to mar the match itself: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Since leaving Barcelona in the summer, the striker has not exactly held his tongue when discussing his former manager, Pep Guardiola. Indeed the Swedish superstar behaves like any scorned ex from a bad relationship, spewing public insults, seeking vengeance, eager to demonstrate how much happier he is now that he has moved on.

He even went so far as to publish a book criticizing the Catalan manager, claiming he came close to punching him in the head during one of their many spats. The tension was so thick you couldn’t cut it with a chainsaw, and with all the off-field distractions, it would be easy to overlook what was actually at stake: first place in the group and home-field advantage in the knockout rounds.

More often than not, a game so aggressively hyped will disappoint. Not this time. Credit AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri for the fireworks throughout.

“I think it is important for us to play a game like this, facing this team with open football to see what level we are at,” boasted the Italian manager.

Ask and ye shall receive.

Encouraged by Barcelona’s risky and perhaps ill-advised 3-4-3 formation, Allegri had his men attack throughout, playing with tempo and intensity. A plethora of chances fell to both sides, with the more clinical Catalans prevailing at the final whistle.

Barcelona would open the count in the 14th minute through an own goal by ex-Barca midfielder Mark Van Bommel. A well-timed run by Seydou Keita saw the man from Mali burst into the box and slide a sharp pass across the face of goal. Just as Xavi reached out to tap in the sitter, Van Bommel’s last-gasp defending deflected the ball off his leg and into the back of the net.

Robinho should have leveled five minutes later, but the Brazilian was unable to capitalize on great buildup play from Boateng and Ibrahimovic, lifting his shot over the bar from close range.

The equalizer arrived moments later when a cross-field pass found Clarence Seedorf in space on the left. His short pass with the outside of the boot was met by Ibrahimovic, who dragged a clinical strike under Valdes to level the match at one.

Messi nearly gave Barcelona the lead when he met Fabregas’ low cross in the 22nd minute, but his effort clipped off the top of the bar, falling harmlessly out of play.

Barca would find themselves ahead in the 31st minute after a questionable refereeing decision awarded the Catalans a penalty kick. A clever through ball from Fabregas saw Xavi in on goal, only for the midfielder to be bundled over by Alberto Aquilani, as he attempted to get his shot off.

Referee Wolfgang Stark mistakenly showed the yellow card to Nesta, while Aquilani made a Houdini-like escape from the books and a likely expulsion for what would have been a second yellow.

Messi converted the initial kick with a splendid paradinha to freeze the keeper, but was ordered to retake for stopping mid-run and correctly shown a yellow card. Christian Abbiati could do nothing to stop the retake, as Messi sent his shot into the bottom left corner with power, past the outstretched hands of the Milan keeper.

Valdes did well in the 38th minute to keep Barcelona ahead, parrying away a thumping volley by Prince Boateng off a dangerous cross by Aquilani.

Milan would level nine minutes into the second half off a wonderful individual piece of skill by Boateng, as the midfielder collected a loose ball with his outstretched leg, clipped it through the legs of Eric Abidal and beat Valdes with a majestic near-post strike.

It was an open, end-to-end affair, full of pace and attacking flair. Milan gave it their all, but were ultimately unable to best the guile of Barcelona’s playmakers.

Xavi Hernandez would put Barcelona ahead for good in the 63rd minute, as Messi’s surgical pass through four defenders caught the midfielder’s deep run, with the captain sending a low strike into the bottom right corner.

Barca nearly added a fourth through substitute Alexis Sanchez, as Thiago’s free-kick was met by the Chilean, who twice was unable to convert from close range, sending his first into the hands of Abbiati and his second into the side netting.

There would be no last gasp equalizer for AC Milan in this one, as Barcelona held onto an impressive 2-3 victory, guaranteeing top spot in the group for the defending champions of Europe.

The converted penalty by Leo Messi marks the Argentine’s first goal ever scored against Italian opposition. Barcelona remain unbeaten in all competitions this season, as they prepare for their next league match this Saturday against Getafe.

Article written by Barcaloco contributor Anson Woodring.  Follow Anson on Twitter at @ansonwoodring.

Full match highlights:

Milan VS Barcelona 2-3 Highlights HD 23.11.2011 by iNfRaS0NiC