Allegri satisfied ahead of Barcelona trip

Posted Saturday, March 09, 2013 by Foxsports.com

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is happy enough with Friday's victory over Genoa keeping in mind the Rossoneri have bigger fish to fry next week.

Milan were handed an early Serie A fixture against Genoa in light of next Tuesday's UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg tie with Barcelona.

And Allegri's men did their part by defeating the relegation-threatened team in somewhat routine fashion with a 2-0 win although defender Kevin Constant made it slightly more difficult than it should have been by getting himself sent off in the 65th minute.

"We were up against a team that caused up problems," Allegri told the club's website.

"It was a competitive game and we fought well. For the sending off we had to burn more energy than we should have. It's a good result.

"We have a good league position now [in third] and we hope to keep that until the end of the campaign. We could have avoided the red card but these things happen."

Goals in either half from Giampaolo Pazzini and substitute Mario Balotelli earned the Rossoneri all three points, but there was some concern for Pazzini and defender Philippe Mexes who both came off with knocks.

"Mexes was taken off for precautionary reasons," Allegri said.

"The players deserve the win and the praise that they're getting. I'll have to see about Pazzini and Mexes, but the rest of the team is available [for Barcelona].

We'll have to do better in Barcelona than we did at the San Siro."

Milan hold a 2-0 lead in the tie with Barcelona ahead of the trip to Camp Nou.