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During the 2006/07 season of the UEFA Champions League, for the seventh time in the club's history, "Milan" became the champion by defeating the team of "Liverpool" in the final and avenging their loss two years ago. Filippo Inzaghi scored two goals for the winners, while Dirk Kuyt scored for "Liverpool" at the end of the match.
Athens Olympic Stadium, 74,000 spectators
Referee - Herbert Fandel (Germany)
Scorers:
45' [1 - 0] Filippo Inzaghi
82' [2 - 0] Filippo Inzaghi
89' [2 - 1] Dirk Kuyt
"Milan" lineup: Dida; Marek Jankulovski (80' Kakha Kaladze), Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Massimo Oddo; Gennaro Gattuso (90+2' Giuseppe Favalli), Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini; Kakà, Clarence Seedorf, Filippo Inzaghi (88' Alberto Gilardino)
"Liverpool" lineup: Pepe Reina; Steve Finnan (88' Álvaro Arbeloa), Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, John Arne Riise; Boudewijn Zenden (59' Harry Kewell), Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano (79' Peter Crouch), Xabi Alonso, Jermaine Pennant; Dirk Kuyt
"Milan" started the match with the predicted lineup, while "Liverpool" coach Rafael Benitez decided to play with one forward Dirk Kuyt, moving the team captain Steven Gerrard forward, and Jermaine Pennant played on the safe edge of the line.
At the beginning of the match, the decisions of the Spanish strategist paid off, and "Liverpool" had the initiative and created the first danger near the opponents' goal - Marek Jankulovski losing the ball, J. Pennant struck at the goal from the edge of the penalty area, but the goalkeeper Dida managed to deflect the ball.
"Milan" responded with their attacks, and Andrea Pirlo's pass almost found Filippo Inzaghi, while Kakà's attempt from a distance did not cause major problems for goalkeeper Pepe Reina. At the middle of the half, "Liverpool" defender Xabi Alonso was close to scoring, but after the ball bounced, the Spanish legionnaire struck completely wide of the goal, and after John Arne Riise's shot from afar, the ball flew over the goal.
However, "Liverpool" did not take advantage of the territorial advantage and at the end of the half made a crucial mistake. X. Alonso fouled Kakà about 20 meters from the goal, and after A. Pirlo's free kick, the ball from F. Inzaghi's shoulder ricochet confused the goalkeeper and entered the net - "Milan" took the lead 1-0.
Like two years ago in the final held in Istanbul, "Liverpool" trailed after the first half, but this time the English club failed to seriously threaten the opponents' goal at the beginning of the second half.
Still, "Milan" successfully defended, and with eight minutes left, took advantage of the space on the opponent's half - after the most productive player of the tournament Kakà's pass, F. Inzaghi avoided the offside and familiarly bypassing the goalkeeper, put the ball into the goal.
"Liverpool" did not give up, and Dida had to work by repelling a powerful long-range shot from P. Crouch, and also had to take the ball out of his goal once, when after a corner kick the ball bounced off Paolo Maldini to D. Kuyt, who headed it, but the miracle of Istanbul did not repeat.
"Milan" achieved revenge and became the European club football champion for the seventh time, helping Italy to equal Spain in victories in the most prestigious continental competitions - both countries have won the tournament eleven times each.
Final match statistics
"Milan" - "Liverpool"
2 Yellow cards 2
3 Shots on goal 4
1 Shots off target 6
15 Fouls 27
4 Corner kicks 6
3 Offsides 3
53% Ball possession 47%
