Maldini says time for Milan to step up

ROME (Reuters) - AC Milan need to produce a performance worthy of their glorious past when they host Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

Of the teams left in the competition, the six-times European champions arguably know best what it takes to go the distance. Only once in the past four seasons has the club failed to reach the last four.

The last time Bayern visited the San Siro stadium, in the first knock-out round of last season's competition, it was simply no contest, as Milan put four goals past the German side to seal a 5-2 win on aggregate.

This season, however, Carlo Ancelotti's team has shown signs of frailty, not just in Serie A, where they languish in sixth place, 35 points behind leaders Inter, but also in Europe, where they needed a brilliant extra-time goal by Brazilian playmaker Kaka to beat last 16 opponents Celtic.

Their captain, Paolo Maldini, admitted his side would have to raise their game if they wanted to progress.

"There are two faces to Milan's season. We're out of the championship, but remain strong contenders in the Champions League," said the 38-year-old defender, who is expected to start the game having shaken off a knee injury.

"This is the moment we have to show our best. We have to lift our game to a higher level than we've done so far."

Ancelotti warned his players they could not afford to throw men forward in attack, leaving themselves exposed at the back.

"They are a very compact team, and they know how to come forward on the break," he said.