12/18/24
May 03, 2007
AC Milan v Liverpool will determine European club Championship once again: For the second time in three season, these two greats of world football go at it again. After AC Milan made Manchester United look very pedestrian and Liverpool beat Chelsea after 210 minutes for sleep inducing football on penalty kicks, who's the favorite to bring home the silverware?
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY to soccer at 09:57 AM - 9 comments
I think Milan have to be favored as well. Scoring 2 at Old Trafford in what just as easily could have been a tie and then thoroughly dominating Man United at home. On the other hand, Liverpool just seem to have that Europe magic. I could see this one going to penalties again. Either way, neither team really has anything to play for in its respective league (and Liverpool will be done with domestic action a good 10 days before the final), so you might expect the teams to focus their energies on getting ready for this match, getting key players fit, etc.
posted by holden at 11:20 AM on May 03, 2007
I'm hoping that the game will match the drama of Istanbul, but I'm not holding my breath.
posted by trox at 12:13 PM on May 03, 2007
Milan have to be the favorites, right? Milan are only very very slight favourites. As of 1:40 pm edst May 3 to win the championship: -138 AC Milan +100 Liverpool 90 Minute Line: +150 AC Milan +188 Liverpool +188 Tie
posted by tommybiden at 12:43 PM on May 03, 2007
I'll be pulling for Liverpool, but predict that Milan will win it 3-2... no extra time, no penalties. Kaka man of the match.
posted by trox at 01:57 PM on May 03, 2007
I stayed up to some ungodly hour to watch both games on the telly in the week. From the showings, you would think Milan are well set to demolish Liverpool in the way they did the Mancs, but I think Liverpool have the resources where Man U didn't in midfield and defence (the latter partly thru injuries for this match). It will be a much grittier contest I expect, with Benitez having the tactical nous to send out a team that will try to stop some of Milan's flow.
posted by Abiezer at 03:14 PM on May 03, 2007
If the final were over two legs I would take L'pool and bet the farm. In one match, anything can happen. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Kaka gets loose and scores goals, but I would be disappointed. I don't see how any neutral can root for Milan. They cheat. They cheat and get away with it. If karma is real, Milan can't win. They shouldn't be allowed to play in Serie A, much less Europe. ACM at the executive level makes the World Bank look like a lilly-white hippy commune. Regardless of how the game plays, the Gerrard-Gattuso matchup will be worth the price of admission. I favor the Pool slightly in a tight game where Benitez forces a snail's pace and clogs the middle. The Reds can really make the other team play in mud when it suits them. But like I said, Kaka is superman so we might as well flip a coin. 1-0 sounds good.... p.s. Pepe Reina gave one of the best performances I have ever seen. 310 minutes without a mistake.
posted by r8rh8r27 at 04:52 PM on May 03, 2007
It will be a much grittier contest I expect Agreed. With so much at stake, and both going in with a variation on 4-5-1, I would bet on 0-0, extra time then penalties. However, if either of them nick a goal in regulation... I can't imagine this one being entertaining. But we also said that before Istanbul.
posted by owlhouse at 06:29 PM on May 03, 2007
It'll be a very different match that's for sure. I think Liverpool can do it, they are much more defensively minded than Man U. Once it is a good game I won't really mind either way though.
posted by Fence at 04:18 AM on May 04, 2007
Milan have to be the favorites, right? For the Bay Area SpoFites, I am willing to host a viewing party at my apartment in Mountain View. Not a huge place but we did get a 37" flat screen at the holidays.