Milan sensationally crashed out of the UEFA Cup on the away goals rule, as Werder Bremen stormed back from a two goal deficit to record a famous result. The score ended 2-2 - enough for the north German side to progress at the expense of a star-studded Milan. The pressure is well and truly on Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, who was expected to lead his team to UEFA Cup glory. Instead it is Thomas Schaaf who celebrates a famous result, as Werder Bremen march on.

Milan were missing a host of regulars, including Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and playmakers Kaka and Ronaldinho to injury, while the likes of Emerson and Marco Boriello are not in the UEFA Cup squad. Dida was once again preferred to Christian Abbiati in goal, as Carlo Ancelotti sent out a 4-3-1-2 formation that included David Beckham in midfield, with Clarence Seedorf playing in behind strikers Alexandre Pato and Filippo Inzaghi. For Werder the influential duo of Torsten Frings and Claudio Pizarro returned to the starting eleven, as they took their places at the expense of Frank Baumann and Markus Rosenberg, with Werder also fielding a 4-3-1-2 formation.

Despite being the away team Werder Bremen were immediately on the attack in this clash, and they missed a golden opportunity through an unmarked Claudio Pizarro early on. Alexis Tziolis also went close for the visitors, while Dida was called upon to save from Torsten Frings, as Werder demonstrated that they clearly meant business. Totally against the run of play Milan earned a penalty as the unlucky Frings handled a David Beckham free-kick, and Andrea Pirlo stepped up to convert. Minutes later the hitherto anonymous Alexandre Pato smashed home from the egde of the box, as Milan took an undeserved two goal lead into the break.

Werder Bremen must have been baffled as to how they went into the interval two goals down, and in the second half they bore down on Dida's goal with monotonous regularity. Hugo Almeida and Diego both fired efforts wide, before substitute Markus Rosenberg chimed in with several near misses. Finally Werder managed to pull a goal back through Claudio Pizarro's header from Diego's well-flighted corner, and with Werder sensing a famous result, they continued to pour forward. Ten minutes after his first, Claudio Pizarro produced a similar header from substitute Sebastian Boenisch's cross, to deservedly send Werder through as Milan crashed out on the away goals rule.

Carlo Ancelotti is under real pressure in the Milan hot-seat, particularly given that Milan already look well out of the hunt for the Scudetto in Serie A. Many expect the long-serving Milan tactician to step down as coach in the summer, with the Rossoneri once again looking unlikely to win a trophy this season. Thomas Schaaf is an equally long-serving coach at Werder Bremen, and he will be delighted with his team's spirited comeback in this clash, as Werder continue their quest for European glory.