Who will win the Champions League final?

[Lorenzo_H]

For all of you football fans out there, Who do you think will win the Champions league final?

AC Milan? The Rossoneri.
or,
Liverpool FC? The Reds.

The poll is not public (so we can't laugh at whoever votes for the wrong team - sorry!) and ends on the 23rd of May, which is the day of the final.

I'm going to stick my neck out and predict AC Milan because of the way that they played against Man United, and because Liverpool were absolutely dreadful against Chelsea; lucky goal and Reina made some decent saves in the Penalties which probably won't save them again vs Milan. AC Milan are determined after what happened in Istanbul, and they look a lot better. They have more quality and have two possible x-factors:

Kaka, the ultimate offensive player. He missed a penalty today, but with the way he has scored in the CL, I think he will find the back of the net more than not.
Gattuso, the ultimate defensive player. He managed to more than completely neutralize Cristiano Ronaldo, and is a physical player who provides a will to win for the team.

Liverpool's one chance is if Steven Gerrard and their starting striker (possible Peter Crouch?) are both on form. Gerrard needs to play well in order to make the rest of the team play well, so if he misses a few good chances then I think Liverpool can get on the bus to Athens airport.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

If Milan play the way they did against United, then I'm fairly confident they'll win. Their passing and possession football was just great. They made United look silly, and United are a better team than Liverpool.

However, Liverpool seem to have a knack of getting really ridiculously flukey results in cup games, so who knows?

[Conradus]

Actually I was hoping Man U'd win the Cup this year, but since they can't have it, it's only fair Milan wins. Manchester was imo the best club this year, so Milan may win because they could beat them.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Well, as a lifelong Liverpool fan, I can say naught but the Reds.

AC Milan are certainly the better team and can play the better football. We lack a killer striker.

Yet Rafa is the best Champions League tactician on the planet and has seen off better teams than Milan this run. Milan are Italian, and smarting from losing the 2005 final. They might just lose their heads - remember, they also surrended a 2 goal lead at Old Trafford in the semis. They know they can't relax whatever lead they may establish. And we are a very solid defensive prospect compared to the Man Utd team they turned over.

My head tells me that AC Milan should win on all counts. But then I remember just after half-time in Istanbul....

[Dutch_guy]

I'm predicting Milan to take the cup. As others have justly said, I just can't see Liverpool beating AC, especially after seeing what AC did to Bayern and Man United. Two teams I regard as to be better than Liverpool.

However, as Banquo stated, many of us - myself included - would not have predicted the 2005 win. So basically Liverpool isn't dead yet, but I doubt Milan 'll make the same mistakes they did two years ago.

[Pannonian]

Well, as a lifelong Liverpool fan, I can say naught but the Reds.

AC Milan are certainly the better team and can play the better football. We lack a killer striker.

Yet Rafa is the best Champions League tactician on the planet and has seen off better teams than Milan this run. Milan are Italian, and smarting from losing the 2005 final. They might just lose their heads - remember, they also surrended a 2 goal lead at Old Trafford in the semis. They know they can't relax whatever lead they may establish. And we are a very solid defensive prospect compared to the Man Utd team they turned over.

My head tells me that AC Milan should win on all counts. But then I remember just after half-time in Istanbul....

You might enjoy this.

Part 1
Part 2

[naut]

AC Milan, after their stunning second leg against Salford Red Sox they'll smash the Scouse out of the water.

[Subedei]

Heart is with Liverpool [always with the underdogs], but hey, Milan is damned good these days....I guess they´ll make it.

[edyzmedieval]

GO AC MILANO!!!

AC Milan for the win. They really deserve it. For a bunch of granpdas, they really really deserve this cup.

[Banquo's Ghost]

AC Milan for the win. They really deserve it. For a bunch of granpdas, they really really deserve this cup.

I can't agree with you that they deserve it. Let's face it, they were banned from the competition because of the match-fixing investigation, and only got re-admitted because UEFA bottled on a technicality - and Berlusconi's political influence.

They may well win because they are the best side - but they don't deserve it.

[Ianofsmeg16]

I voted Liverpool because i want to see an English club win...but if AC play the way they did against Man U, Liverpool could be in for a verr tough night.

where's the final being played?

[Tamur]

where's the final being played?

Athens.

If they both continue in the same form, it's a given that Milan will be lifting the cup afterwards. But with Rafa at the controls I'm definitely not ruling the Reds out.

[The Stranger]

kaka and seedorf will win the final

[scotchedpommes]

Milan may have peaked far too late for their domestic season, but at just the
right time for this. [And I think they might want to exorcise some ghosts -
anyone else see the choice of the away kit coming?] Just can't see Liverpool
winning it now.

[Lorenzo_H]

Milan may have peaked far too late for their domestic season, but at just the
right time for this. [And I think they might want to exorcise some ghosts -
anyone else see the choice of the away kit coming?] Just can't see Liverpool
winning it now.

What do you mean by the choice of away kit?

[scotchedpommes]

Milan were drawn as the home team for the final and so had the option of
choosing to wear their rossoneri home kit, but they opted instead to choose
the white away kit; that which they wore in 2005.

[Lorenzo_H]

And did it affect their performance?

[scotchedpommes]

Surely the question should be whether the memories it may or may not evoke
will affect their performance. That said, I think they would have enough
motivation regardless. It's just about adding yet more psychological factors.

[Axeknight]

When you walk, through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark
Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown...


Liverpool all the way. We've already beaten two teams better than Milan in this cup run. You all forget that Man Ure bottled it against them - they were utterly useless on the away leg after having won back a lead at Old Trafford. Man Ure's defence was a hotchpotch of reserves and rejects that night because of injuries, and Milan tore them to pieces. Liverpool defensively are a pretty tough nut to crack. Having said that, I'm so glad we've got Milan instead of the Mancs. DID NOT want them in the final.

And BKS, surely by 'flukey' you mean 'determined', or possibly 'inspired' or maybe 'magnificent'?

[Lorenzo_H]

When you walk, through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark
Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown...


Liverpool all the way. We've already beaten two teams better than Milan in this cup run. You all forget that Man Ure bottled it against them - they were utterly useless on the away leg after having won back a lead at Old Trafford. Man Ure's defence was a hotchpotch of reserves and rejects that night because of injuries, and Milan tore them to pieces. Liverpool defensively are a pretty tough nut to crack. Having said that, I'm so glad we've got Milan instead of the Mancs. DID NOT want them in the final.

And BKS, surely by 'flukey' you mean 'determined', or possibly 'inspired' or maybe 'magnificent'?

Wow! Dude you're living in the Isle of Man? How random so do I!

But Liverpool can't win. Milan>Manchester United>Liverpool

[DukeofSerbia]

I don't like both teams, especially AC Milan. I don't care who will win.

Anyway, I voted for AC Milan as I think they are in better form currently. We'll see...

[Louis VI the Fat]

My last-minute predictions:

1-1 after 90 minutes.

Equalizer will be scored in the last five minutes, Gerrard will score, Milan wins in extra time.

[Sjakihata]

Boring match so far. After the 1st half no team really made an impression, I like Pennant on the wing and Im cheering for Liverpool.

Milan got so lucky, they play awful especially in the defence, very insecure.

[DukeofSerbia]

What Milan has and Liverpoll not?

Kaka, Inzagi, Pirlo and Gattuso! Pipo Inzagi is one and the unique!!! This is typical "krmača" by Pipo as we said in Serbian.

Milan with zero chances scored, and poor Liverpool with three excellent chances nothing.

Boring match so far. After the 1st half no team really made an impression, I like Pennant on the wing and Im cheering for Liverpool.

Match is so far better than FA Cup final last weekend.

Milan got so lucky, they play awful especially in the defence, very insecure.

No, this is typical Italian play. You attack whole match, and when nobody expects we score!!! This is pattented and killing Italian tactics [like Italy won WC last year].

[Lorenzo_H]

Now Who Do You Think Will Win?

[Avicenna]

AC

2-1

[scotchedpommes]

It has to be said that Milan were poor. Poor. But Liverpool couldn't exploit that,
and while after the fluke goal I was expecting 2-0 after 90 minutes, to Milan,
Liverpool really had to do better.

As for "Milan>Manchester United>Liverpool", I can't see how this applies, to be
honest. Inter are better than AC, and where are they? Barca, on their day, are
perhaps still a shade better than them all. I couldn't see Liverpool winning this
either, but on the basis of the first half performance, you'd have to say they
were the better team, just unable to take their chances.

[Louis VI the Fat]

No, this is typical Italian play. You attack whole match, and when nobody expects we score!!! This is pattented and killing Italian tactics [like Italy won WC last year].

I was thinking exactly that at half time too.

Liverpool was slightly better, but not playing at their best either. And my God, what do they lack lethality up front! Shame.

Benitez is a great tactician, but perhaps too good. He should have let his players go for it with all they've got earlier in the game. Or have brought on Crouch sooner. It was all rather lacklustre now. After the first half I really wanted Liverpool to win, but in the end they didn't really deserve it I think. They were simply not convincing enough.
As for Milan, they shouldn't have performed in this Champions League edition in the first place. During this season they already stretched my patience with their constant whining about the 'gross injustice' they heroically overcame this season. Bah.

[scotchedpommes]

Let's not be too downhearted just because the Italians somehow got one over
on the rest of Europe yet again! Those crafty dramatists - I almost succumbed
to the urge to applaud Inzaghi when he was shot by that sniper near the end.

Les Girondins will just have to show us how it's done in Europe, eh Louis?


[So nearly "eh Bobby." I digress.]

[Lorenzo_H]

All this crap about "English football is the best in the world" was really annoying me. Everyone thought that this was the year for English football in the Champions league. I mean, look at it. They had a 3 to 4 chance in the semifinals of an English team winning, but the only non English team succeeded. Hopefully that will silence them.