Reds should never be underestimated

Athens will be a perfect setting for tonight's Champions League final which promises to be another epic contest between Milan and Liverpool, the same finalists of two years ago.

In 2005, at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, hot-favourites Milan showed class and superiority on Liverpool until the Reds turned the game around with three second-half goals inside six minutes.

Eventually, Liverpool, led by Spanish maestro Rafael Benitez, held on solidly to a late Milan rally and lifted their fifth European Cup after a penalty shoot-out.

Milan have been waiting ever since to get revenge over the English club. Their vengeance will be, beyond doubt, a crucial factor in tonight's clash of the titans.

However, Milan would commit a serious mistake if they underestimate their opponents because, it seems, Liverpool reserve their best for this competition alone.

Like Milan, Liverpool are a cup team and know how to handle such games. If Milan rate Liverpool less than Premiership champions Manchester United, the team they ousted in the semis, that would probably signal their downfall.

Liverpool may not have enough strength-in-depth and consistency to win domestic championships, but it is equally true that they have enough quality and experience within their squad to match the current best teams on the continent.

On their way to Athens, Liverpool knocked out European Cup holders Barcelona and Chelsea. Besides his tactical acumen, Benitez, formerly of Valencia, is also immensely talented in bringing the best out of his players.

Many consider Liverpool a better side than two years ago. Benitez now knows his players better and Liverpool have more attacking options. Moreover, they have been focusing mainly on tonight's showdown ever since they ousted Chelsea in the semi-finals following a penalty shoot-out.

Notwithstanding the Reds' wide-ranging strengths, Milan start favourites to bring the European Cup back to Italy. They were the last Serie A side to win the prestigious tournament in 2003 after beating Juventus in an all-Italian final at Old Trafford.

Milan will be contesting their 11th European Cup final tonight. They possess more ball players and when it comes to substitutions, Ancelotti seems to have more reliable personnel at his disposal.

Although playmakers like Clar-ence Seedorf - the only one to have won the Champions Cup with three different clubs (Ajax in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and Milan in 2003) - tournament top-scorer Kaka and midfielder Andrea Pirlo can win it for Milan, it all depends on skill and determination.

No easy task

Six-times European champions Milan have to prove that reaching three Champions League finals in the last five years is no fluke.

Making it all the way up to the final is one thing but lifting the cup is something different. Liverpool pose no insurmountable hurdle for Milan but winning the final today will be no easy task.

In Italy, many say Milan have to play a similar game as they did against Man. United three weeks ago and keep pressing Liverpool in their own half.

If that fails, Liverpool possess enough grit to get back in business.

Two years ago, Milan played a perfect game, at first. They halted their aggressive stance, probably due to complacency, in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Eventually that cost them the cup.

As opposed to Istanbul, Milan are in Athens on a high. They were never in contention for the scudetto but peaked at the right time besides recovering most of their injured players.

Before, the other two European Cup finals in Athens were won by the underdogs.

In 1983, Hamburg edged the star-studded Juventus 1-0.

Eleven years later, Johann Cruyff had predicted a comprehensive victory for slick Barcelona over a Milan side hit with the absences of key defenders Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta.

But, on May 18, 1994 Milan defied the odds and went on to clinch their fifth European Cup.

Serie A statistics

1 st draw between Torino and Livorno in 13 Serie A meetings in Turin. Both teams preferred not to risk on Sunday and a goalless stalemate was the most obvious outcome. Now, both Torino and Livorno have made sure of extending their stay in the top flight by another year. Apart from Sunday's draw, the only time Livorno left Turin undefeated was on October 11, 1942 (2-1). Like Torino and Livorno, Cagliari, too, made sure of survival thanks to a 3-2 home win over Roma. It was Cagliari's fourth success in their last five home clashes with Roma.

2 wins (vs Parma 1-0 and Ascoli 1-0) and a draw (vs Reggina 1-1) in their last three outings helped Chievo boost their survival chances. On Sunday, Luigi Del Neri's side had to sweat for a hard-fought home win over the already-doomed Ascoli. Now, all depends on Sunday's vital clash between Chievo and Catania in the neutral venue of Bologna. A draw would be enough for Chievo to stay up. Troubled Reggina did a 'miracle' on Sunday and salvaged a 3-3 draw with Empoli after going 3-0 down at half-time. Reggina's next match on Sunday is against Milan. They have to win to make sure of avoiding the drop.

3 UEFA Cup representatives for Italy next season are Fiorentina, Palermo and Empoli. Fiorentina conceded two goals in the last 10 minutes against Messina who collected their 26th point of the term (five less than last year). Messina have never beaten Fiorentina in five home clashes - three draws and two defeats. Palermo were back to winning ways with the returning Francesco Guidolin at the helm. They beat troubled Siena 2-1.

4 th win for Udinese in 32 Serie A visits to Milan's Giuseppe Meazza stadium as on Saturday they edged the Champions League finalists by the odd goal in five. However, the only significant aspect of the match was veteran defender Alessandro Costacurta's last appearance before he hangs up his boots to become Carlo Ancelotti's assistant, along with Mauro Tassotti. Sunday was a day of farewells even at Lazio's Olympic Stadium as goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi made his last appearance in a 0-0 draw with Parma. With the point won, Claudio Ranieri's Parma have practically made sure of survival. Another draw on Sunday against Empoli at home will be enough for them.

7 penalties were awarded by Serie A refs last weekend. Nicola Amoruso scored a late penalty to complete Reggina's comeback against Empoli. Francesco Totti pulled one back for Roma against Cagliari and Luis Figo scored from the spot-kick to put Inter level with Atalanta. Elsewhere, Alessandro Costacurta scored from the spot in his last game for Milan. Messina striker Christian Rigano saw his first-half penalty saved by Fiorentina's Sebastian Frey. But, two minutes from time, Rigano made up for that miss by converting a penalty that earned already-demoted Messina a draw. Earlier on in the same game, Giampaolo Pazzini was also successful from the spot.

8 unbeaten games in a row (five wins and three draws) were not enough for Atalanta to force their way in the UEFA Cup zone following Sunday's 1-1 draw with Inter. Atalanta's most recent of 11 home wins over Inter dates back to May 1, 1994 (2-1). Sampdoria added to Catania's woes as they emerged winners 1-0 thanks to a Christian Zenoni 68th-minute strike. This defeat confirmed Catania's truly dire record at the Luigi Ferraris stadium where they have won only once in 10 Serie A visits (December 27, 1964 - 1-0).

27 goals were scored on the 37th day: 15 coming from the hosts and the remaining 12 from the visitors. Foreigners contributed with only six goals while there were 13 first-half goals. Total number of goals scored so far amount to 930. Four players - Francesco Totti (Roma), Davide Marchini (Cagliari), Nicola Amoruso (Reggina) and Christian Rigano (Messina) - grabbed a brace each. Luis Figo (Inter) and Luca Vigiani (Reggina) came on as substitutes and scored. Catania defender Christian Silvestri was the only red-carded player last weekend. Totti is now almost sure of topping the scorers' list this season. So far, he scored 24 goals (five from penalties) and currently enjoys a six-goal lead over nearest pursuers Cristiano Lucarelli (Livorno) and Rolando Bianchi (Reggina).