Borussia Dortmund Were Edged Out Of The Champions League On Tuesday despite winning 1-0 at Group C winners AC Milan.

The vic+-tory, secured by Jan Koller_s 80th minute goal, would have been enough for the Germans to join Milan in the quarter-finals had reigning champions Real Madrid not won at Lokomotiv Moscow.

Therefore Real and Milan go into the hat for the last eight draw to be held later this week.

Dortmund_s exit from the competition means Germany is without a representative in the last eight for the first time in 19 years.

Defender Rene Gattuso admitted Milan, who have slipped away in the race for the Italian title after three consecutive draws, were second best to the German champions.

"We were tired and looked a beaten side," said Milan_s weary Italian international.

"It_s the way things are going at the moment. We are looking forward all the time and are not far from getting the right results."

Gattuso_s comments contrasted with those of coach Carlo Ancelotti who was satisfied with the team_s display.

"This game left me with more reasons to be satisfied than not," Ancelotti said.

"For 75 minutes we competed well and deserved something more from the match.

"We have no reason to be ashamed as we won the group above great teams like Dortmund and Real Madrid."

Dortmund coach Mathias Sammer refused to accept German football was in a state of crisis with no Bundesliga team making it through to the knock-out phase.

"We can_t talk about a crisis beacuse this is just one season," said the former German international.

"Certainly if this happens two, three, or four years in a row, then we could say German football was in trouble, but that is not the case."

Milan, five-time Euro-pean champions, came close to breaking the deadlock in the fourth minute at the San Siro.

Portuguese playmaker Rui Costa threaded a beautifully-weighted pass to Brazilian World Cup winnner Rivaldo, who was denied by a fingertip save form Borussia goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

Evanilson was the first to threaten for the visitors, but the Brazilian_s long range effort sailed high over the bar.

A dull first-half ended with Alessandro Nesta_s perfectly-timed sliding tackle denying Borussia_s Brazilian striker Amoroso a shot on goal as the Brazilian burst into the penalty box.

Rui Costa was at the heart of every Milan move and he almost provided team-mate Gattuso with the opening goal in the 58th minute, but the former Glasgow Rangers midfielder saw his powerful shot strike the post.

Four minutes later Dort-mund were denied when Amoroso_s 25-yard curling shot was brilliantly clawed away by Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

Dortmund_s pressure eventually told with 10 minutes to go when Koller broke Milan_s offside trap to latch onto Lars Ricken_s angled pass and drill a low shot beyond Abbiati.

Milan had strong appeals for a penalty waved away moments later when Fillipo Inzaghi fell in the penalty area under Christian Worms_ challenge.

But the linesman_s flag was already raised as Inzaghi had strayed into an offside position before the tackle came in from the German defender.