Barcelona’s title hopes were hanging in the balance after a 2-0 loss to host A.C. Milan in their Champions League Round of 16 match on Wednesday.

Second-half goals by Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari left Barcelona with a huge task in the second leg after a night when Lionel Messi was not a factor for Barcelona.

Barcelona’s players were fuming about the first goal, when the ball appeared to strike the hand of Cristián Zapata before it ricocheted into the path of Boateng, who scored in the 57th minute.

There was no doubt about the second as Stephan El Shaarawy lifted the ball up for Muntari to volley past goalkeeper Victor Valdés with 10 minutes left. Barcelona dominated the first half but struggled to get past Milan’s two lines of four defenders. Milan had failed to win in seven previous games against Barcelona.