Javier Saviola’s 78th-minute equaliser cancelled out Paolo Montero’s early strike for Juve.

Barca boss Radomir Antic told the club’s website, www.fcbarcelona.com: “On a night when things weren’t really going our way, we found that little bit of luck that you sometimes need. Let’s hope it’s the luck of champions.

“The fact that we didn’t play particularly well makes the result even more impressive. You’ll see a different Barca in the second leg, because we’ll have much more of the ball. The Nou Camp crowd behind us is worth a goal in itself!”

Juventus coach Marcello Lippi insisted he had not given up hope of still progressing, however.

He told www.juventus.it: “There is a bitter feeling in our dressing room because we deserved to win and because their goal came from our mistake.

“Barcelona should not think they are through even if they will now play on their ground. They looked like they feared us and concentrated mainly on not letting us play.”

Last night’s other quarter-final is delicately poised after Inter Milan secured a 1-0 home win over Valencia.

Christian Vieri’s 14th-minute header settled the issue at the San Siro, where both sides finished with 10 men.

Valencia’s David Albelda and Inter’s Emre saw red after clashing in the 57th minute.

Inter coach Hector Cupe told the club’s website, www.inter.it: “I’m satisfied when we win. We should have done more with the ball in the second half, but we defended well.”

The winner of this tie will face either Ajax or AC Milan, who drew 0-0 in Amsterdam on Tuesday.