Lille 0 - 0 Milan Kaka, Alberto Gilardino and Clarence Seedorf had the best chances, but Milan were held to their second consecutive goalless draw - held by French side Lille. Following their 0-0 at Livorno on Saturday, they again fail to hit the back of the net.
The Rossoneri were without the injured Paolo Maldini, Giuseppe Favalli and Yoann Gourcuff for this trip to Lens (as Lille's stadium is too small for European competition), so Carlo Ancelotti opted for a more defensive formation with Kaka and Clarence Seedorf supporting lone striker Alberto Gilardino. Gennaro Gattuso celebrated his 300th official match in a Milan jersey.
Alessandro Nesta returned from an injury and required a crucial intervention to block Nicolas Fauvergue on the edge of the area. Seedorf drilled wide from distance and Andrea Pirlo's attempt didn't trouble Tony Sylva, but Nesta was again called to hook a dangerous ball off Fauverge's foot.
Fauvergue did get on the end of a Kader Keita cross from the right, but fired over the bar. Gilardino also went close, his angled drive skimming the far post.
Keita was allowed too much space on the edge of the Milan area and Dida smothered the shot with his palms. At the other end, Seedorf's snapshot was off target.
Although the Rossoneri maintained 60 per cent of the possession in the first half, their patient play struggled to break down Lille. In fact, the home side were more dangerous when they actually did get a shot away, Fauvergue's close-range volley well blocked by Dida after he got in front of Kakhaber Kaladze.
The Brazilian goalkeeper also comfortably held an ambitious Peter Odemwingie strike from a tight angle.
Marcos Cafu shook off his marker with some fancy footwork and floated in a cross for Kaka at the back post, but the shot was deflected and easy prey for Sylva.
Milan created the best scoring opportunity of the half on 40 minutes. Pirlo's through ball set Kaka clear and he prodded it past Sylva, but the goalkeeper stayed on his feet to narrow the angle and force the finish on to the side-netting with his hand.
The resulting Seedorf corner was flapped out by the goalkeeper, but Marek Jankulovski drilled over a totally open goal.
Gilardino is still looking for his first career Champions League goal and sprung the offside trap on Gennaro Gattuso's assist only to scuff his shot inches wide of the far post.
The former Parma man then swung wildly at the ball just inside the penalty area, as the visitors were pouring forward in waves towards half-time.
After the break a Kaka right-foot effort was captured, while Seedorf hit the back of the net and it was disallowed for an offside position. However, replays shot the Dutchman was kept in play by the last defender.
Keita was a real threat on the counter-attack on 56 minutes, but his left-foot shot was over the bar after a promising run from midfield.
Moments later Gilardino held up the ball for Kaka, who ran rings round Vitakic before bringing a tough save out of Sylva at the near post.
Seedorf wasted a golden opportunity for the Rossoneri. Kaka feinted a pass for Gilardino, but the dummy let Seedorf through with only the goalkeeper to beat from seven yards, yet the former Inter midfielder slipped and horribly scuffed his shot.
Plestan knocked a corner kick back into the centre, but there were no other Lille players to take advantage and Dida was able to control the situation. The goalkeeper also smothered a long-range Tafforeau strike.
Pirlo's free kick was punched out as far as Seedorf, who fired straight at the goalkeeper's body. Kaladze was also unable to get the ball through a sea of legs.
Lille's best chance of the game so far came after 69 minutes. Bodmer's glancing header from a Tafforeau cross was sneaking into the far bottom corner of the net before Dida palmed it out at full stretch.
Soon after, Dida spilled a Tafforeau piledriver and was able to capture it before Odemwingie could pounce. Milan were increasingly toothless in attack, but Ancelotti refused to change tactics, introducing Pippo Inzaghi for Gilardino.
Seedorf found Cafu with a long pass, though the Brazilian's first touch let him down as he entered the area from the right. Inzaghi pounced on a loose ball and was eventually crowded out by defenders,
Seedorf again wasted a good chance by scuffing the ball with the outside of his foot, set up by Kaka. Moments later, Dida was at full stretch to fingertip a Cabaye snapshot round the base of the post.
Inzaghi's angled drive was well held by Sylva, then Ambrosini nodded a Pirlo free kick well over the bar. Dida parried a powerful Bodmer effort from the edge of the box, but neither side could break through.
Lille: Sylva; Chalmé, Plestan, Tavlaridis (Rafael 85), Vitakic; Keita, Makoun, Bodmer, Tafforeau; Fauvergue (Cabaye 62); Odemwingie
Milan: Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf, Kakà ; Gilardino (Inzaghi 76)
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