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Today, Wednesday evening, at 21:45 Lithuanian time, at the Istanbul "Ataturk" Olympic Stadium, many participants of such competitions will step onto the field to compete for the most prestigious European club football trophy, the UEFA Champions League winner's title, in the 50th European Cup final after a 20-year break from the Club. The favorite is the six-time tournament champion "Milan" club, with many experienced stars in its ranks that any coach in the Old Continent would envy. However, the Italian team is certainly not promised an easy fight, as although less experienced, "Liverpool" is also a renowned club and will try to add to its trophy case. "Liverpool" dominated in Europe in the eighties and nineties, winning the trophy four times in a seven-year period, while "Milan" participated in five finals from 1989 to 1994 and won three of them. In total, the Italian club has played in nine finals and won six, the last of which was in 2003 after defeating Turin's "Juventus" in a penalty shootout. "Liverpool" last won the Champions League trophy in 1984, although the "Reds" triumphed in the UEFA Cup four years ago. Despite "Milan" seeking to forget the unsuccessful second leg match against "PSV" before these matches, when the Italians avoided elimination in the last minute, and needing to hide their disappointment after the unbeaten "Serie A" champions title, few expected to see "Liverpool" in the final. So the English club is simply delighted to be in it and to wear the label of the weaker team in the final. "Milan's" squad is truly impressive. The team has arguably one of the most powerful defensive lines in the world - P. Maldini, Cafu, A. Nesta, and J. Stam - all of whom were or are still considered among the best players in their positions. The belligerent G. Gattuso and set-piece specialist A. Pirlo will support their defenders, while the experienced C. Seedorf, a three-time winner of the Champions League, will join the creative Kaka in attack. However, this season Kaka has not been as successful as before, but one of the most dangerous strikers in the world, A. Shevchenko, can certainly score goals for the Italian team. The only doubt the coach C. Ancelotti remains is who will be the Ukrainian's partner in attack - it could be either J. D. Tomasson or F. Inzaghi, but the favorite should be the important goal scorer A. Crespo, who has already scored crucial goals in the tournament. In "Liverpool's" team, defense was one of the most important factors on the way to the final: the strong Finnish S. Hyypia is in top form, the reliable J. Carragher plays very well, and S. Finnan and D. Traore help them successfully. Much will depend on whether S. Gerrard can control the game in midfield and whether X. Alonso's passes will be accurate. Attacking on the right side, everything can be expected from L. Garcia, actively threatening the opponents on the left will be J. A. Riise, and in the position of midfield guard, if he manages to outperform I. Biscan, D. Hamman should take his place. The question for R. Benitez remains who to play upfront - M. Baros, who has not fully utilized his potential at club level, or D. Cisse, who has recovered from a broken leg, the coach does not rule out the possibility that they can play together. Projected Starting Lineups: "Milan" (4-3-1-2): Dida; Cafu, Stam, Nesta, Maldini; Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kaka; Shevchenko, Crespo "Liverpool" (4-2-3-1): Dudek; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore; Hamann, Alonso; Garcia, Gerrard, Riise; Baros Referee: Manuel Gonzalez (Spain)
