The Revenge

Two years ago in Istanbul, in what will definitely remain for some time the biggest upset in the history of the Champions League final, Liverpool overcame a three-goal defecit in less than six minutes and then won 3-2 in the penalties. Everybody’s still talking about how the Italian’s “catenaccio” strategy was dominated by the famous English “fighting spirit”. Liverpool triumphed that evening but it seems very unlikely that history can repeat itself tonight in Athens with two of the most titled franchises in football history (Milan has won the trophy six times and Liverpool five). Tonight, Milan will seek revenge while Liverpool will be continuing its quest of European titles since they haven’t been able to win anything in the kingdom lately. Two highly experienced teams, two brilliant collectives and diametrically opposed football philosophies will face off tonight. The confrontation is sumptuous but there’s no way to top the dramatic intensity of two years back. Unless…

The Outsider

Liverpool enjoys being the underdog. There hasn’t been a megastar on this team in a really long time, yet they remain one of the most beloved team in Europe and still continue to rake in trophies at a more regular pace than, say, Arsenal. But Liverpool loves that role. They love to be the champions of the people, the working-class team with no stars built on morals and values. They place their whole communication on that particular image and, now that they have been sold to American investors too, they’re living their last days of feeling superior and of playing the humble card. Because this team has no reason to be humble. You don’t become European champions by chance, you don’t reach your second Champions League final in three years by a misunderstanding. Just like their Italian counterpart, Liverpool has built this team on stability - out of the 22 players on the European champion side from two years ago, seventeen will be reporting for duty tonight (Luis Garcia still out for the season). They've only gotten stronger and will cause more problems to Milan then Manchester did some weeks ago. Rafael Benitez and his medical staff will not sleep tonight, everybody working and praying that Zenden will be ready to take his place on the left side of the attack after hurting his ankle last Thursday in Spain. Jermaine Pennant will be ready to replace him even though it seems Momo Sissoko is definitely not going to play, his position being filled in by Mascherano. With a filled infirmary, a team with no name players and a less than impressive course, people are quick to dismiss Benitez’s boys. Regardless of what anybody says though, Liverpool is far from dead and should not be underestimated tomorrow. Last time that happened, Steven Gerrard was the captain that ended up lifting the trophy.

The Favorite

Milan has nothing to prove. They’re definitely the best football team of the last twenty years. They possess in their midfield alone four contenders for European player of the year and if football had a hall of fame, seven of the players entering the pitch for Milan tonight would already have been inducted. They have legends still holding it down and someone who seems to be destined for many more years of world domination. The bookmakers didn’t make a mystery of it and nobody seems to even fathom the notion that they could lose this game. Any other game, but not this one. Clarence Seedorf is going to play his fifth Champions League final and has already won three with three different teams before. He has never seemed this light on the field and Marco van Basten better be watching tomorrow if he wants the Netherlands to win something next summer. BUT the biggest celebrity of this team this year has no doubt been Kaka. Coming from a World Cup where he was the only Brazilian playing like a Brazilian, he showed Manchester’s Cristiàno Ronàldo how to dominate a world-class game and in a strong demonstration of both skill and power, singlehandedly eliminated what seemed like the best team out this year. The other big focal point for Milan is Paolo Maldini’s left knee. The knee that has been playing for 24 years at the highest level, the knee that helped him win the Champions league four times in seven finals, the knee that will be operated on next Sunday and the knee that will be infiltrated all night and most of the day. That knee is the only key to tomorrow’s lineup. The medical staff will give Carlo Ancellotti their diagnosis two hours before the kick off and Maldini will do anything in his ability to play. Two years ago, he scored in the first minute of what many believed would be his last game. But then he woke up still hungry and continued. He is the last of the greats. Baresi stopped, Albertini stopped, Costacurta gave his goodbyes to San-Siro on Sunday at 41 and Maldini is ready for one last go-round at 38, no matter what happens tonight. Hopefully, his knee will be ready also.

Personally, like two years ago, I’ll be watching the game from inside the British embassy's pub where I know the very Liverpudlian Martin will have champagne bottles ready. But I can’t see him drinking from them out of joy like last time. Gennarino won’t let this happen.