Champions League Final - AC Milan
Chance in Athens to Avenge Liverpool's Penalty Shoot-out Win in 2005
Champions League Final in Athens between AC Milan and Liverpool provides the Italian team with the opportunity to avenge their penalty shoot-out defeat of two years ago.
AC Milan are hoping to extract revenge on Liverpool for their defeat in the final of the Champions League two years ago. It was a difficult result for Milan to accept as they had been three goals ahead at half-time only to lose to penalties after extra time.
Italian Match-fixing Scandal:
Going into the Final in Athens, AC Milan have been in a similar position to their opponents, able to keep this competition as their main focus for the year. AC Milan were initially barred from the competition as part of their punishment handed out last summer for their part in the Italian match-fixing scandal but that decision was overturned on appeal. However, they also saw a nine point deduction imposed on them for the season which effectively meant that they weren’t in a position to challenge Inter Milan the runaway winners of Serie A and so their concentration turned to the European competition.
European Progress:
Having overcome Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, AC Milan defeated Manchester United in the semi-final. Having lost the first leg game at Old Trafford, they effortlessly swept aside the newly crowned English champions with a three goal home victory and they are now anticipating an opportunity to turn the tables on Liverpool and take ever so sweet revenge on the Merseyside club. AC Milan’s players are still sore about the way they lost in that previous Final.
Strong,experienced team:
AC Milan’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has built a team of flair with sound tactical awareness. They have a very experienced defence which was stretched against Manchester United in the away game but fears that they would struggle to cope with the pace of United’s strikers in the return game were completely unfounded. Their Brazilian goalkeeper, Dida, had an uncomfortable evening at Old Traffford and Milan will be hoping that Paolo Maldini will be fit to play to give him an opportunity to claim his fifth winner’s medal. Milan have a strong midfield partnership of Gennaro Gattuso, Massimo Ambrosini and Clarence Seedorf their player of flair and imagination is Kaka who was a constant threat to Manchester United. He scored three goals in those two games and is the top scorer in the Champions League with ten goals. Liverpool will be wise to take heed of the threat he poses to their chances of success.
British 'Treble'
Milan would not relish a penalty shoot-out so they may be more inclined to try to win the game and if they perform as they did in the semi-finals, they could well have an British ‘treble’ on their way to winning the trophy for the seventh time, having also defeated Glasgow Celtic in an earlier round.
