Champions League Final - Pre Match Thread

[gaijin]

Okay, it will be of course Milan v Liverpool in Istanbul in just 3 weeks.

For me it is the classic final, two teams with great heritage and tradition.

But for me, Milan are the massve favourites, anything can happen as well as we know, but I can't see Liverpool winning this - as much as I would like them to.

Milan 3-1 for me.

[Clan]

Extra-time.

[gaijin]

Liverpool will meet Milan for the first time ever in a competitive European fixtures.

Liverpool's record against Italian sides is as follows;

European Cup 1964/65 - semi final - Inter Milan, 3-1 and 0-3 (3-4)
Cup Winners Cup 1965/66 - 1st round - Juventus, 2-0, 0-1 (2-1)
European Cup 1983/84 - Final - Roma, 1-1 (Liverpool win 3-1 on pens)
European Cup 1984/85 - Final - Juventus, 0-1
European Super Cup 1985/86 - Juventus, 0-2
UEFA Cup 1991/92 - Quarter Final, Genoa, 1-2, 0-2 (1-4)
UEFA Cup 2000/01 - 4th Round, Roma, 0-1, 2-0 (2-1)
Champions League - 2nd round, Roma, 2-0, 0-0
Champions Legaue - Quarter Final, Juventus, 2-1, 0-0 (2-1)

Won - 6, Drawn 2, Lost 7. Scored 13, Conceded 15

Liverpool's record in European Cup Finals

1976/77 - Liverpool 3-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
1977/78 - Liverpool 1-0 FC Brugge
1980/81 - Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid
1983/84 - Liverpool 1-1 Roma [aet] (Liverpool win 3-1 on pens)
1984/85 - Juventus 1-0 Liverpool

4 out of 5 - Scored 6, Conceded 3...

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Milan's record against English sides is as follows;

European Cup 1957/58 - Semi finals - Manchester United 1-2, 4-0 (5-2)
European Cup 1962/63 - 2nd round - Ipswich Town - 3-0, 1-2 (4-2)
Inter Cities Fairs - 3rd round - Chelsea - 2-1, 1-2, 1-1 (Milan win by coin toss)
European Cup 1968/69 - Semi finals - Manchester United, 2-0, 0-1 (2-1)
UEFA Cup 1971/72 - Semi finals - Tottenham Hotspur, 1-2, 1-1 (2-3)
Cup Winners Cup 1972/73 - Final - Leeds United, 1-0
UEFA Cup 1975/76 - Final - Everton, 0-0, 1-0 (1-0)
UEFA Cup 1978/79 - 3rd round - Manchester City, 2-2, 0-3 (2-5)
Super Cup 1993/94 - Arsenal, 0-0, 2-0 (2-0)
Champions League 1999/00 - Chelsea, 0-0, 1-1
Champions League 2000/01 - Leeds United, 0-1, 1-1

Won - 7, Drawn - 8, Lost - 7. Scored 25, Conceded 20.

Milan's record in European Cup Finals.

1957/58 - Real Madrid 3-2 Milan
1962/63 - Milan 2-1 Benfica
1968/69 - Milan 4-1 Ajax
1988/89 - Milan 4-0 Steaua Bucharest
1989/90 - Milan 1-0 Benfica
1992/93 - Olympique Marseille 1-0 Milan
1993/94 - Milan 4-0 Barcelona
1994/95 - Ajax 1-0 Milan
2002/03 - Milan 0-0 Juventus (Milan win 3-2 pens)

6 out of 9 - Scored 17, Conceded 7.

[Colm]

This is going to be a great game, Liverpool do very well in Europe and i think people are going to be writing them off big time, I'm not saying Liverpool will win but if Milan play like they did against PSV on the second leg tonight then i think Liverpool have a great chance, however if Milan play to there best then they win its as simple as that

Come on Liverpool! :)

[gaijin]

My heart says Liverpool, my head says Milan.

Still, it won't stop me cheering on the English side though. :D

Good luck to them!!! Go on Liverpool!!!

[Strummerman]

My heart says Milan my head says Milan guess who will win. Viva Milan viva Italia!!!

[Oscar]

I'm not saying Liverpool will win but if Milan play like they did against PSV on the second leg tonight then

Maybe they were 'saving their strength' for the match against Juve in the weekend, after all they only needed to score once to make PSV score 4 times to win the game, something which I (and probably many others) would have deemed impossible before the game....only for reality needing one more goal to have made it happen. :(

[Sempre]

Milan v. Liverpool--so exciting. Liverpool have been playing
over their heads, outfoxing opponent after opponent. When
you consider how many injuries they have, it's amazing. Have
to admire their grit.

I think the fairy story might be up though. Milan will know
that they can't play as sluggishly as they did today, and you
have to consider how effective they are . . . They need just
a chance or two to score and if Nesta and co. have a bit of
rest over the next couple of weeks, I can see Milan winning
this, but very narrowly. I don't at all see 3-1 on the
horizon, especially given the form of Hyppia and Carragher,
who have both been so solid.

Can't wait for it.

[Colm]

good news for Liverpool is that Alonso will be back and Cisse is getting fitter by each game he plays.

[Springbok FC]

Once again, Liverpool will be decided underdogs going into the May 25th final. AC Milan was expected to make it this far and they are arguably the best (if not 2nd best -- Chelsea) side in Europe. The '03 champions know how to get the job done even though they just barely escaped in Eindhoven.

Still, even though the Reds find themselves in the role of underdog to a tactically superior side, I think they have a lot of reason to be optimistic. If Milan play like Italians generally do -- ball control, get an early lead and sit on it -- Liverpool's aggressive, counter-attacking style might be able to take advantage of it.

Should be a classic final. I have a lot of respect for Milan (my Italian club of choice), but I'm going to be decked out in my Carlsberg gear, screaming my head off for Gerrard, Carragher & Co.

YNWA

[otoniel]

I can't predict anything now Milan have still too many important games to play for before the final unlike Liverpool they suck at the league they dont have to play for anything but the Final. Ill wait until Milan play all their league games before the final to make a realistic prediction! But of course i want Milan to win they are my favorite team Forza Milan

[Argentine Futbol]

Why is there only a one game final? I think that's ridiculous.. If either club has an off-night than forget it.

[Spartak]

Liverpool's record against Italian sides is as follows;

European Cup 1964/65 - semi final - Inter Milan, 3-1 and 0-3 (3-4)
Cup Winners Cup 1965/66 - 1st round - Juventus, 2-0, 0-1 (2-1)
European Cup 1983/84 - Final - Roma, 1-1 (Liverpool win 3-1 on pens)
European Cup 1984/85 - Final - Juventus, 0-1
European Super Cup 1985/86 - Juventus, 0-2
UEFA Cup 1991/92 - Quarter Final, Genoa, 1-2, 0-2 (1-4)
UEFA Cup 2000/01 - 4th Round, Roma, 0-1, 2-0 (2-1)
Champions League - 2nd round, Roma, 2-0, 0-0
Champions Legaue - Quarter Final, Juventus, 2-1, 0-0 (2-1)

Won - 6, Drawn 2, Lost 7. Scored 13, Conceded 15

Liverpool's record in European Cup Finals

1976/77 - Liverpool 3-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
1977/78 - Liverpool 1-0 FC Brugge
1980/81 - Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid
1983/84 - Liverpool 1-1 Roma [aet] (Liverpool win 3-1 on pens)
1984/85 - Juventus 1-0 Liverpool

4 out of 5 - Scored 6, Conceded 3...
It is quite clear that this is Liverpool's weakest team to reach a final. It is also clear that this Milan side is the best team Liverpool has ever had to face in a final.

Milan's record against English sides is as follows;

European Cup 1957/58 - Semi finals - Manchester United 1-2, 4-0 (5-2)
European Cup 1962/63 - 2nd round - Ipswich Town - 3-0, 1-2 (4-2)
Inter Cities Fairs - 3rd round - Chelsea - 2-1, 1-2, 1-1 (Milan win by coin toss)
European Cup 1968/69 - Semi finals - Manchester United, 2-0, 0-1 (2-1)
UEFA Cup 1971/72 - Semi finals - Tottenham Hotspur, 1-2, 1-1 (2-3)
Cup Winners Cup 1972/73 - Final - Leeds United, 1-0
UEFA Cup 1975/76 - Final - Everton, 0-0, 1-0 (1-0)
UEFA Cup 1978/79 - 3rd round - Manchester City, 2-2, 0-3 (2-5)
Super Cup 1993/94 - Arsenal, 0-0, 2-0 (2-0)
Champions League 1999/00 - Chelsea, 0-0, 1-1
Champions League 2000/01 - Leeds United, 0-1, 1-1

Won - 7, Drawn - 8, Lost - 7. Scored 25, Conceded 20.

Milan's record in European Cup Finals.

1957/58 - Real Madrid 3-2 Milan
1962/63 - Milan 2-1 Benfica
1968/69 - Milan 4-1 Ajax
1988/89 - Milan 4-0 Steaua Bucharest
1989/90 - Milan 1-0 Benfica
1992/93 - Olympique Marseille 1-0 Milan
1993/94 - Milan 4-0 Barcelona
1994/95 - Ajax 1-0 Milan
2002/03 - Milan 0-0 Juventus (Milan win 3-2 pens)

6 out of 9 - Scored 17, Conceded 7.
You forgot to include Milan's two wins over ManU this year.

[thepremierleague]

It is quite clear that this is Liverpool's weakest team to reach a final. It is also clear that this Milan side is the best team Liverpool has ever had to face in a final.


Thats pretty impossible to say. Although it's definitely the worst Liverpool team to ever play in the Champions Cup final.

I doubt Liverpool of the past would be shaking in their boots playing this Milan team.

[Spartak]

Thats pretty impossible to say. Although it's definitely the worst Liverpool team to ever play in the Champions Cup final.

I doubt Liverpool of the past would be shaking in their boots playing this Milan team.
It's not impossible to say. I said it. This Milan team has been more successful in europe than all the teams Liverpool played previously in finals. They are the only team that won a European Cup heading into the final. Results speak for themselves. Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Brugge, Real Madrid, and Roma were all one hit wonders to reach the final. The only case you can make is the Juve team of 1985. But personally I feel this Milan side is better in europe than that squad. Reaching two finals(and possibly winning two) in 3 years speaks for itself.

[thepremierleague]

4 one hit wonders? Do you actually know how good these teams all were on the field.

This Milan team is not awesome.

[Spartak]

4 one hit wonders? Do you actually know how good these teams all were on the field.
Results speak for themselves my friend. How many European Cups did those 4 teams win combined? Answer: 0. How many European Cups has this Milan side won: 1(and could soon be 2)

This is not even the best Milan team ever.
I never claimed they were.

[thepremierleague]

They lost them because Liverpool Beat them :rolleyes:

[Cassano]

Now that Liverpool is in the Champion's League Final, I wonder what Michael Owen is thinking. He wanted to leave Liverpool because he wanted to win something, and he went to a supposedly "winning team" (Real Madrid) that isn't winning anything.

[gaijin]

It is quite clear that this is Liverpool's weakest team to reach a final. It is also clear that this Milan side is the best team Liverpool has ever had to face in a final.

You forgot to include Milan's two wins over ManU this year.

Sorry, it was an old site, that didn't update the Man Utd games. :o

It would basically read now -

Won - 9, Drawn - 8, Lost - 7. Scored 27, Conceded 20.

That should do it. :)