A second-half penalty from Ronaldinho was enough to send AC Milan through to the last 16 of the Champions League after a 1-1 draw with 10-man FC Zurich at the Letzigrund.

Real Madrid's defeat of Marseille meant that the Rossoneri were through to the knockout stages in any event, but only a much improved second half performance from Leonardo's men prevented Zurich from completing a famous double over the visitors.

The Swiss team, who had beaten the Serie A side in Italy in September, were good value for a 1-0 half-time lead, at which stage the visitors were far from secure in Group C.

But Milan stepped up the pace after the break and should have claimed all three points in the end following Alain Rochat's dismissal.

Alexandre Pato had the first chance of the game after just eight minutes when Luca Antonini's left wing cross was flicked on to the far post, where the Brazilian striker had found space.

Pato connected with the volley and Johnny Leoni in the Zurich goal had to be alert to keep out the strike and moments later news filtered through from Marseille that Real Madrid had scored, so things looked good for the Rossoneri in the early stages.

The visitors were unable to capitalise on their good start however and the lively Adrian Nikci fired a warning shot across the Milan bows moments later that was narrowly off target.

Indeed, Zurich should have taken the lead after 26 minutes when Alexandre Alphonse was played clean through on goal with only Dida to beat.

Alphonse spectacularly failed to take his chance though, as a lack of composure at the vital moment meant that he snatched at his shot and blazed it high and wide over a relieved Dida's crossbar.

Three minutes later Zurich took a deserved lead when the impressive Milan Gajic fired the hosts ahead direct from a free kick from around 25 yards.

Gajic had earned the free kick himself when a surging run was halted by a pull back from Milan skipper Massimo Ambrosini and Gajic made no mistake with the strike, which was perfectly placed inside Dida's right hand post with the keeper helpless.

After the interval Milan came out all guns blazing and Ambrosini and Ronaldinho went close for the Rossoneri before Rochat saw red for bringing down Marco Borriello after 63 minutes.

The Zurich defender could have few complaints over the decision and Ronaldinho calmly sent the keeper the wrong way with the penalty to ease Milan's nerves.

Once down to 10 men, Milan controlled the game and Kakha Kaladze should have put the result beyond doubt five minutes after the Milan equaliser, but his header went wide from six yards out.

It didn't matter, as Milan reduced their opponents to sporadic counter attacks for the rest of the match and go through despite a patchy performance on the whole.