The AC Milan midfielder believes his team has what it takes to get past Barcelona in the next round of the Champions League

AC Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo believes his team has what it takes to get past Barcelona in the next round of the Champions League.

The Italian giants will face the Catalans in the round of 16 in early 2013 and Montolivo believes it is not an impossible task to win the tie.

“On paper we are disadvantaged, but this is a motivation," he told ANSA.

"We know we can [get through to] the next round. But in the coming months we have to grow and become even more of a team.”

Milan will first turn their attention to the league however, as they look to climb up the Serie A table having gone into the winter break in seventh place with 27 points.

"We can get closer to the first three positions," said the Italy international, who also admitted he is still haunted by his disallowed goal in the Milan derby back in October.

"We deserved to win [against Inter]," he continued.

"It would have been nice to have the memory of the Rossoneri's first goal in a derby, and it was valuable, but I'll try to score another one."