FCBARCELONA.CAT

23.05.2007 23:15

Milan take over Barça’s crown

Sergi Nogueras

AC Milan are the new champions of Europe, following on from Barcelona’s triumph in 2006. Inzaghi scored twice in a 2-1 win over Liverpool as the Italian club sealed their seventh European crown.

FC Barcelona are no longer the European champions after AC Milan claimed the 2007 Champions League title in Athens. Milan have now collected the trophy an amazing seven times (two of those occasions when Frank Rijkaard was playing for them). A special mention goes to Paolo Maldini, who has appeared in eight finals in all, and has won five. And it was a night of revenge for Carlos Ancelotti’s team, as they finally laid to rest the ghosts of the 2005 final in Istanbul, when they surrendered a 3-0 lead over Liverpool at half time and eventually missed out on the trophy in a penalty shootout.

Excitement to the end

Liverpool were the better side in the first half, and Pennant came close with a 10th minute strike that Dida dealt with superbly. But just when it looked like the sides were going to go in at the break with no score, a Pirlo free kick on the edge of the area was nudged goalwards by Inzaghi to make it 1-0. It was the same player who scored Milan’s second of the night, latching onto the end of an excellent Kaka assist in the 81st minute to break the offside trap and slip the ball under ex-Barça man Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal. But a Kuyt header with a minute to go pulled one back for the Premiership side, and in the final minutes the tension reached fever pitch as the Reds threatened to repeat that amazing comeback of two years ago. But there were no miracles this time, and AC Milan were able to celebrate yet another Champions league victory.

Reina and Zenden in action

Pepe Reina and Boudewijn Zenden are the two former Barcelona players in Rafa Benítez’s squad (plus the injured Luis Garcia) and both started the match. The Dutchman was finding the going tough down the wing, and was replaced after 59 minutes by Australian Harry Kewell.