..::CL FINAL::.. Juventus - Milan (4 Viewers)
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++ [ originally posted by walu_ex ] ++
Haha! Milan were in the "Group of Death" for the first two group stages, ( Juve was struggling against English Premier League teams ???? )yet ended up qualifying before everyone else. Juve owns Serie A ( and their refs
), no doubt, but there's only one team in Italy when it comes to Champion's League, and on Wednesday maybe you'll all start believing, like Neo.
Without Nedved, and with Juve trying to make up for his absence, and with a FULL-STRENGTH Milan team I'd say it's more like 55%-45% in favour of Milan. Let's not underestimate how good the Czech really is.
Haha! Milan were in the "Group of Death" for the first two group stages, ( Juve was struggling against English Premier League teams ???? )yet ended up qualifying before everyone else. Juve owns Serie A ( and their refs
), no doubt, but there's only one team in Italy when it comes to Champion's League, and on Wednesday maybe you'll all start believing, like Neo.Without Nedved, and with Juve trying to make up for his absence, and with a FULL-STRENGTH Milan team I'd say it's more like 55%-45% in favour of Milan. Let's not underestimate how good the Czech really is.
Juventus has had a much tougher road to the final so don't count to much that Juventus without Nedved will give Milan the victory.
Sorry if this news has been added here already
Silver goal for Champions League
Monday, 26 May 2003
The UEFA Champions League final between Juventus FC and AC Milan will be the second match to feature the silver goal ruling.
Fairer outcome
The new way of deciding a drawn match was first used in the UEFA Cup final last Wednesday and UEFA's Director of Communications, Mike Lee, said the final showed the new system produced a fairer outcome than was the case with the golden goal.
Successful introduction
In the UEFA Cup final, Brazilian forward Derlei gave Porto a 3-2 lead after 115 minutes, and although Celtic failed to score in the extra five minutes the new system at least allowed them to seek an equaliser. UEFA subsequently hailed the new system's successful debut.
Added drama
"The UEFA Cup final showed the advantage of the silver goal," said Lee. "It gave the match a much fairer way of ending and it led to some of the most dramatic moments of the night. Celtic had the opportunity to come back and the moments they were attacking and looking for an equaliser were some of the most dramatic of the entire match. In that sense, it already showed its worth."
Negative play
He continued: "The golden goal meant that the match often finished in difficult circumstances, particularly for the losing club and fans and often led to negative play in extra time. The UEFA Cup final showed that for the players, fans and referee the new system is fairer and produces a better conclusion to the game."
Safety benefits
Lee added that the new system also had advantages from a safety and security perspective and also for broadcasters and other media covering the match. "With the golden goal, there were issues around stadium safety and certain problems in terms of the huge additional pressure it places on the referee," he said.
Rule recap
Under the new rule, if the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, a first 15 minutes of extra time will be played. If one team is in the lead at the end of the 15 minutes, that team will be declared the winners of the match
Second chance
If the two teams are still level after 15 minutes of extra time, a second 15-minute period will be played. If the result remains deadlocked at the end of the second period of extra time, a penalty shoot-out will determine the winners.
Trial basis
The system is being used on a trial basis in this season's two major club finals and may be introduced in the knockout stages of all UEFA competitions from next season.
eufa.com
Silver goal for Champions League
Monday, 26 May 2003
The UEFA Champions League final between Juventus FC and AC Milan will be the second match to feature the silver goal ruling.
Fairer outcome
The new way of deciding a drawn match was first used in the UEFA Cup final last Wednesday and UEFA's Director of Communications, Mike Lee, said the final showed the new system produced a fairer outcome than was the case with the golden goal.
Successful introduction
In the UEFA Cup final, Brazilian forward Derlei gave Porto a 3-2 lead after 115 minutes, and although Celtic failed to score in the extra five minutes the new system at least allowed them to seek an equaliser. UEFA subsequently hailed the new system's successful debut.
Added drama
"The UEFA Cup final showed the advantage of the silver goal," said Lee. "It gave the match a much fairer way of ending and it led to some of the most dramatic moments of the night. Celtic had the opportunity to come back and the moments they were attacking and looking for an equaliser were some of the most dramatic of the entire match. In that sense, it already showed its worth."
Negative play
He continued: "The golden goal meant that the match often finished in difficult circumstances, particularly for the losing club and fans and often led to negative play in extra time. The UEFA Cup final showed that for the players, fans and referee the new system is fairer and produces a better conclusion to the game."
Safety benefits
Lee added that the new system also had advantages from a safety and security perspective and also for broadcasters and other media covering the match. "With the golden goal, there were issues around stadium safety and certain problems in terms of the huge additional pressure it places on the referee," he said.
Rule recap
Under the new rule, if the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, a first 15 minutes of extra time will be played. If one team is in the lead at the end of the 15 minutes, that team will be declared the winners of the match
Second chance
If the two teams are still level after 15 minutes of extra time, a second 15-minute period will be played. If the result remains deadlocked at the end of the second period of extra time, a penalty shoot-out will determine the winners.
Trial basis
The system is being used on a trial basis in this season's two major club finals and may be introduced in the knockout stages of all UEFA competitions from next season.
eufa.com
BUFFON STEPS AWAY FROM LIMELIGHT
Gianluigi Buffon helped propel Juventus into the Champions League final against AC Milan by saving Luis Figo's penalty but he isn't anxious to be the man on the spot again.
Against the fearsome Real Madrid attack which boasted the likes of Ronaldo, Figo and Zinedine Zidane, Buffon stood tall as Juve won their semi-final against the defending champions from Spain, 4-3 on aggregate.
His vital save came in the second half of the second leg at the Delle Alpi.
As much praise that has come the way of the man Juve paid Ł32.6million to Parma for a couple of years ago, he still prefers a match winner to come from open play in the final against AC Milan.
"In the final, I would like to avoid them," he said on Monday. "I would like to win without penalty kicks.
"Everyone expects a very tactical match, very balanced, yet, I don't exclude a spectacular match with two teams that face each other in front of the whole of Europe."
A spectacular game would be a fitting conclusion to a competition which has had its superlative moments this year.
Last season's game will always be remembered for the incredible Zidane volley from the edge of the area that gave Real Madrid a 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
The defensive 'catenaccio' system which is reviled by many outside of Italy is often employed by teams in big games and that is the type of tactic that could be on the cards for the final.
If the teams sit back and defend, Buffon could very well find himself in a penalty shoot-out at the end.
If that happens, so be it says Buffon.
"I am only interested in winning not in showing my own value," the 25-year-old Buffon said. "I am ready to win."
This is undoubtedly the biggest game of Buffon's career.
He has played in the World Cup for his country, but he hasn't been in an important final like this.
Buffon made his debut at the age of 17 with Parma and since his move to Juve they have won the Scudetto twice in a row.
The Carrara-born player has had a right shoulder injury for the past two months but he will take his place between the sticks.
And that is important team news for Juve, for he is deemed indispensable as a part of a Juventus defence which conceded a mere 29 goals in 34 league matches this season.
One of the sub-plots in the game will be Buffon against his former team-mate, fellow Azzurri Filippo Inzaghi who has been a huge success since joining the Rossoneri from Juve.
"Inzaghi was born to make goals and he will die scoring goals, (Ukrainian striker Andriy) Shevchenko is equally dangerous because he can score in so many positions, we will have to keep a close eye on him and mark them well," said Buffon.
The Bianconeri will be favourites against Milan, whom they finished eleven points clear of during the season.
sportinglife.com
Gianluigi Buffon helped propel Juventus into the Champions League final against AC Milan by saving Luis Figo's penalty but he isn't anxious to be the man on the spot again.
Against the fearsome Real Madrid attack which boasted the likes of Ronaldo, Figo and Zinedine Zidane, Buffon stood tall as Juve won their semi-final against the defending champions from Spain, 4-3 on aggregate.
His vital save came in the second half of the second leg at the Delle Alpi.
As much praise that has come the way of the man Juve paid Ł32.6million to Parma for a couple of years ago, he still prefers a match winner to come from open play in the final against AC Milan.
"In the final, I would like to avoid them," he said on Monday. "I would like to win without penalty kicks.
"Everyone expects a very tactical match, very balanced, yet, I don't exclude a spectacular match with two teams that face each other in front of the whole of Europe."
A spectacular game would be a fitting conclusion to a competition which has had its superlative moments this year.
Last season's game will always be remembered for the incredible Zidane volley from the edge of the area that gave Real Madrid a 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
The defensive 'catenaccio' system which is reviled by many outside of Italy is often employed by teams in big games and that is the type of tactic that could be on the cards for the final.
If the teams sit back and defend, Buffon could very well find himself in a penalty shoot-out at the end.
If that happens, so be it says Buffon.
"I am only interested in winning not in showing my own value," the 25-year-old Buffon said. "I am ready to win."
This is undoubtedly the biggest game of Buffon's career.
He has played in the World Cup for his country, but he hasn't been in an important final like this.
Buffon made his debut at the age of 17 with Parma and since his move to Juve they have won the Scudetto twice in a row.
The Carrara-born player has had a right shoulder injury for the past two months but he will take his place between the sticks.
And that is important team news for Juve, for he is deemed indispensable as a part of a Juventus defence which conceded a mere 29 goals in 34 league matches this season.
One of the sub-plots in the game will be Buffon against his former team-mate, fellow Azzurri Filippo Inzaghi who has been a huge success since joining the Rossoneri from Juve.
"Inzaghi was born to make goals and he will die scoring goals, (Ukrainian striker Andriy) Shevchenko is equally dangerous because he can score in so many positions, we will have to keep a close eye on him and mark them well," said Buffon.
The Bianconeri will be favourites against Milan, whom they finished eleven points clear of during the season.
sportinglife.com
i can't help but think about the wed game...it's on my mind 24/7.
I'm really afraid, for 2 reasons:
1. Nedved is out
2. I dont see the same type of mentality from juve before the Real Game. I hope juve dont come out there unmotivated and lost.
It's hard for juve when they come in as the slight favs.
I really hope juve are in a cautious, but calm state of mind. We Need the same kind of mantality we showed against Barca and Depor to win this match. Also, the same teamwork we showed when we beat Kiev 5-0, and when we beat real 3-1.
...I really want juve to win....the closer i get to the Final The further away I feel anything for Maldini and co. I want to See DP patting Rui Costa on his back while DP's the one with the smile on his face.
When will these glory days of European domination return!!!??
i hope the answer to this is Wednesday!!!
I'm really afraid, for 2 reasons:
1. Nedved is out
2. I dont see the same type of mentality from juve before the Real Game. I hope juve dont come out there unmotivated and lost.
It's hard for juve when they come in as the slight favs.I really hope juve are in a cautious, but calm state of mind. We Need the same kind of mantality we showed against Barca and Depor to win this match. Also, the same teamwork we showed when we beat Kiev 5-0, and when we beat real 3-1.
...I really want juve to win....the closer i get to the Final The further away I feel anything for Maldini and co. I want to See DP patting Rui Costa on his back while DP's the one with the smile on his face.
When will these glory days of European domination return!!!??
i hope the answer to this is Wednesday!!!
Yeah, nice article by Buffon, who I consider tied with Kahn for the title of world's best. Don't take Rui's comments too seriously, he wasn't being serious, he's a model professional. Anyway, I found a rather sad article about Ancelotti, an article that also helps me understand why Juve are favourites to win. I have said many times before that Milan do have a team that is slightly stronger than Juve's, but Juve still have a first rate team, and more importantly, Lippi knows how to get the most out of them.
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A first for revenge drives Ancelotti
By Paula Cocozza (Filed: 25/05/2003)
Winning the Champions League should be enough incentive for any manager. But Carlo Ancelotti has another reason to want to triumph on Wednesday night - and it is personal.
It was half-time in the last game of the season, June 2001; Juventus were drawing with Atalanta. Unless they won (they did), and unless other results went their way (they did not), in 45 minutes' time they would finish second to Roma. Ancelotti was in the dressing-room, urging his team to make one final effort. He should have saved his breath.
At the same moment, high up in the stands, Umberto Agnelli, then owner of Juventus, turned to a neighbour in the directors' box and said: "I'll be sorry to see him go. I hope he finds a club where the fans like him."
Ancelotti had not been a popular signing. Two-and-a-half years earlier he had arrived at the Stadio delle Alpi for his first match to be greeted by a banner that read: "A pig can't manage". He had just taken over from Marcello Lippi. Now Lippi was taking over from him, and he is still there.
"It was fraught and complicated," said the Gazzetta dello Sport's Salvatore Lo Presti, Juventus correspondent since 1973. "For weeks everyone at the club had been backing Ancelotti to the hilt. But bit by bit we realised something was going on. We'd ask questions and the replies would come back less and less precise."
In two full seasons, Ancelotti had led Juventus to two consecutive second places in Serie A. But that achievement, in turn, led the board to the conclusion that he was a loser. "Second place is last place," Agnelli once said. Lippi obviously agreed, and promptly delivered two consecutive Serie A titles to add to the three he won in his previous stint at the club.
"There was always the suspicion that Ancelotti lacked whatever was needed to be a winning manager," said Lo Presti. "He is perhaps a bit too nice, a bit too friendly with the players. He doesn't have Lippi's awesome pride and menace." What he does have in Italy, admits Lo Presti, is "the fame of a loser".
As a player, Ancelotti might have been known as Tiger Heart, but ask those who know him to describe him and the same words always come out first. "Calmo," they said. "Tranquillo. Molto sereno." Indeed, such is Ancelotti's balance that it is possible to tell when he is angry only by looking at his left eyebrow: in rage it rises slightly.
On the bench Ancelotti chews his way through cigarettes; three, four, five in a half while Lippi puffs to a different rhythm on Mercator cigars. Off the pitch Ancelotti never raises his voice, keeps everything inside. Lippi times his renowned explosions with precision and volume, but somehow gives less away. Ancelotti is fondly known in Milan as 'Fat Face'. Even Lippi's cheekbones have sharp edges. With age Ancelotti has turned grey, Lippi silver.
There are plenty, though, who disagree. "He is absolutely not a loser," says Bruno Conti, who roomed with a 19-year-old Ancelotti at Roma. "He was just a kid when he arrived but he went straight into the first team. None of us thought it was odd. He had such composure and determination."
Arrigo Sacchi, who made him captain of his Milan side and then assistant coach of Italy, agrees. "One match in particular epitomised his determination," he said. "We were 4-0 up at the time, the match was won. Carlo fractured his hand in order to score our fifth."
Conti does not remember him as someone who came second. "He was always first to get to sleep," he said. That will come in handy for Wednesday night: he knows if he does not win, his reputation as a loser might be cemented for ever.
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A first for revenge drives Ancelotti
By Paula Cocozza (Filed: 25/05/2003)
Winning the Champions League should be enough incentive for any manager. But Carlo Ancelotti has another reason to want to triumph on Wednesday night - and it is personal.
It was half-time in the last game of the season, June 2001; Juventus were drawing with Atalanta. Unless they won (they did), and unless other results went their way (they did not), in 45 minutes' time they would finish second to Roma. Ancelotti was in the dressing-room, urging his team to make one final effort. He should have saved his breath.
At the same moment, high up in the stands, Umberto Agnelli, then owner of Juventus, turned to a neighbour in the directors' box and said: "I'll be sorry to see him go. I hope he finds a club where the fans like him."
Ancelotti had not been a popular signing. Two-and-a-half years earlier he had arrived at the Stadio delle Alpi for his first match to be greeted by a banner that read: "A pig can't manage". He had just taken over from Marcello Lippi. Now Lippi was taking over from him, and he is still there.
"It was fraught and complicated," said the Gazzetta dello Sport's Salvatore Lo Presti, Juventus correspondent since 1973. "For weeks everyone at the club had been backing Ancelotti to the hilt. But bit by bit we realised something was going on. We'd ask questions and the replies would come back less and less precise."
In two full seasons, Ancelotti had led Juventus to two consecutive second places in Serie A. But that achievement, in turn, led the board to the conclusion that he was a loser. "Second place is last place," Agnelli once said. Lippi obviously agreed, and promptly delivered two consecutive Serie A titles to add to the three he won in his previous stint at the club.
"There was always the suspicion that Ancelotti lacked whatever was needed to be a winning manager," said Lo Presti. "He is perhaps a bit too nice, a bit too friendly with the players. He doesn't have Lippi's awesome pride and menace." What he does have in Italy, admits Lo Presti, is "the fame of a loser".
As a player, Ancelotti might have been known as Tiger Heart, but ask those who know him to describe him and the same words always come out first. "Calmo," they said. "Tranquillo. Molto sereno." Indeed, such is Ancelotti's balance that it is possible to tell when he is angry only by looking at his left eyebrow: in rage it rises slightly.
On the bench Ancelotti chews his way through cigarettes; three, four, five in a half while Lippi puffs to a different rhythm on Mercator cigars. Off the pitch Ancelotti never raises his voice, keeps everything inside. Lippi times his renowned explosions with precision and volume, but somehow gives less away. Ancelotti is fondly known in Milan as 'Fat Face'. Even Lippi's cheekbones have sharp edges. With age Ancelotti has turned grey, Lippi silver.
There are plenty, though, who disagree. "He is absolutely not a loser," says Bruno Conti, who roomed with a 19-year-old Ancelotti at Roma. "He was just a kid when he arrived but he went straight into the first team. None of us thought it was odd. He had such composure and determination."
Arrigo Sacchi, who made him captain of his Milan side and then assistant coach of Italy, agrees. "One match in particular epitomised his determination," he said. "We were 4-0 up at the time, the match was won. Carlo fractured his hand in order to score our fifth."
Conti does not remember him as someone who came second. "He was always first to get to sleep," he said. That will come in handy for Wednesday night: he knows if he does not win, his reputation as a loser might be cemented for ever.
This is from the BBC, they rock. You can always rely on them for unbiased, impartial news.
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Juventus are without influential playmaker Pavel Nedved, who is suspended for the Champions League final. Otherwise, coach Marcello Lippi has a full-strength squad.
AC Milan have a doubt over Brazilian goalkeeper Dida. Coach Carlo Ancelotti might continue with Christan Abbiati.
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MOST SIGNIFICANT STATS
Old Trafford proudly plays host to the showpiece climax of the European football season, as Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus battle it out to determine who will be crowned the 48th champions of Europe.
AC Milan are chasing a sixth European Cup title to keep them in second place in the all-time list, which is headed by Real Madrid with nine. Their opening victory was in 1963 when they beat Benfica 2-1 in the first European Cup Final to have been held in England. They have not lifted the famous trophy since 1994. On that occasion they defeated Barcelona 4-0 in front of 70,000 in Athens.
Juventus drew with Ajax 1-1 after extra time, and won 4-2 on penalties in 1996 - only the second time in their history they were enthroned top dogs of Europe.
This is AC Milan's ninth appearance in a European Cup/Champions Cup Final and Juventus' seventh.
These clubs have not met in European competition this season, but in the Serie A, both clubs have recorded 2-1 wins against the other. Di Vaio and Thuram put Juventus two up after 21 minutes at Stadio Delle Alphi in Turin on 10 November, and Pirlo replied from the penalty spot on 32. In the San Siro on 22 March, all the goals were again in the first half. Shevchenko put AC Milan ahead after four minutes, Tudor cancelled it out five minutes later and Inzaghi netted the winner on 25 minutes.
Juventus were formed in 1897, and entered the Italian League in 1929. In addition to their two victories in this competition, they were 1984 European Cup Winners' Cup winners and lifted the Uefa Cup in 1977, 1990 and 1993. They have won their League Championship 27 times, including this season, and claimed nine major domestic Cups.
If Juventus lose this year's final, they will become the team who have lost the most finals in the competition, jointly with Portugal's Benfica. The Portuguese club have been runners-up on five occasions with the last one being their 1990 defeat by AC Milan. Juventus have lost on four occasions, to Ajax in 1973, Hamburg in 1983, Borussia Dortmund in 1997 and Real Madrid in 1998. This places them ahead of Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid and this year's opponents AC Milan who have all lost the final of Europe's premier competition on three occasions.
AC Milan were formed in 1899 and entered Serie A in 1929. They lifted the Cup Winners' Cup in 1968 and 1973. They've won the Italian League Championship 16 times, the last being in 1999. They have also claimed four major domestic Cups.
Marcello Lippi is in his second spell as trainer of Juventus. The 65 year old coached the 1996 Champions League winning team, and has won five League titles and one domestic Cup with Juvay.
Lippi is aiming to become the third trainer to win this competition twice, following Ottmar Hitzfield (1997 Borussia Dortmund, 2001 Bayern Munich) and Vicente del Bosque (2000 , 2002 - both with Real Madrid.). He is also hoping to avoid becoming the first trainer to lose in four European finals. He lost the 1995 UEFA Cup final to Parma before also losing the 1997 and 1998 Champions League finals - all with Juventus.
Fellow Italian Carlo Ancelotti took over from Lippi at Juventus in 1999. He became trainer of AC Milan after nine games of the 2001/02 season, and is yet to claim his first honour with them as a trainer but won the Champions Cup as a player with AC Milan in 1989 and 1990.
Filippo Inazaghi is AC Milan's top scorer in the Champions League this season with ten goals. He needs a hat trick to pass Ruud van Nistelrooy's record 12 goals. The Manchester United Dutch wizard set the new mark for scoring goals in a single Champions League campaign this season. Alessandro Del Piero is Juvay's top Champions League marksman in this crusade, with five.
This is the sixth time the final of Europe's premier competition has been staged in England, but the first time away from Wembley. Old Trafford has a capacity of 67,000.
Markus Merk is due to become the seventh German to referee a European Cup/Champions League Final, meaning that Germany will have now provided the man in the middle for this prestigious match on more occasions than any other nationality. The previous German to control the final was Hellmut Krug in 1998.
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JUVENTUS
League position
CHAMPIONS Serie A 1st 72 pts
2002/2003 PERFORMANCE
P W D L GF GA
Serie A 34 21 9 4 64 29
Champions League 16 8 3 5 30 19
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS
Date Rnd Res
18 Sep 02 Phase 1 E Feyenoord 1-1 Juventus
24 Sep 02 Phase 1 E Juventus 5-0 Dynamo Kiev
1 Oct 02 Phase 1 E Juventus 2-0 Newcastle
23 Oct 02 Phase 1 E Newcastle 1-0 Juventus
29 Oct 02 Phase 1 E Juventus 2-0 Feyenoord
13 Nov 02 Phase 1 E Dynamo Kiev 1-2 Juventus
26 Nov 02 Phase 2 D Deportivo 2-2 Juventus
11 Dec 02 Phase 2 D Juventus 4-0 Basle
19 Feb 03 Phase 2 D Man Utd 2-1 Juventus
25 Feb 03 Phase 2 D Juventus 0-3 Man Utd
12 Mar 03 Phase 2 D Juventus 3-2 Deportivo
18 Mar 03 Phase 2 D Basle 2-1 Juventus
9 Apr 03 QF 1L Juventus 1-1 Barcelona
22 Apr 03 QF 2L Barcelona 1-2 Juventus
6 May 03 SF 1L Real Madrid 2-1 Juventus
14 May 03 SF 2L Juventus 3-1 Real Madrid
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JUVENTUS' CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCORERS
Player Goals
Alessandro Del Piero 5
Pavel Nedved 5
Marco Di Vaio 4
David Trezeguet 4
Alessio Tacchinardi 2
Paolo Montero 2
Marcelo Zalayeta 2
Ciro Ferrara 1
Edgar Davids 1
Alessandro Birindelli 1
Marcelo Salas 1
Igor Tudor 1
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AC MILAN
Current League position
3rd Serie A 61 pts
2002/2003 PERFORMANCE
P W D L GF GA
Serie A 34 18 7 9 55 30
Champions League 18 10 3 5 23 16
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS
Date Rnd Res
14 Aug 02 3rd Ql 1L AC Milan 1-0 Slo Liberec
28 Aug 02 3rd Ql 2L Slo Liberec 2-1 AC Milan
18 Sep 02 Phase 1 G AC Milan 2-1 RC Lens
24 Sep 02 Phase 1 G Deportivo 0-4 AC Milan
1 Oct 02 Phase 1 G Bayn Munich 1-2 AC Milan
23 Oct 02 Phase 1 G AC Milan 2-1 Bayn Munich
29 Oct 02 Phase 1 G RC Lens 2-1 AC Milan
13 Nov 02 Phase 1 G AC Milan 1-2 Deportivo
26 Nov 02 Phase 2 C AC Milan 1-0 Real Madrid
11 Dec 02 Phase 2 C Borussia D 0-1 AC Milan
19 Feb 03 Phase 2 C AC Milan 1-0 Lokom Mosc
25 Feb 03 Phase 2 C Lokom Mosc 0-1 AC Milan
12 Mar 03 Phase 2 C Real Madrid 3-1 AC Milan
18 Mar 03 Phase 2 C AC Milan 0-1 Borussia D
8 Apr 03 QF 1L Ajax 0-0 AC Milan
23 Apr 03 QF 2L AC Milan 3-2 Ajax
7 May 03 SF 1L AC Milan 0-0 Inter Milan
13 May 03 SF 2L Inter Milan 1-1 AC Milan
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AC MILAN'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCORERS
Player Goals
Filippo Inzaghi 10
Andrei Shevchenko 4
Jon Dahl Tomasson 3
Rivaldo 2
Clarence Seedorf 1
Serginho 1
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Facts and Figures
An Italian club is guaranteed to win the trophy for the tenth time, equalling the record held by Spain.
These last two additions mean that Italy have provided 23 representatives in the Champions Cup/Champions League final, more than any other country.
Italian clubs are back after four seasons without a finalist in the competition. Immediately before this, an Italian club had been in the final in seven successive seasons between 1992 and 1998.
Juventus failed to win their second phase group. Only six clubs in previous Champions Leagues have reached the final after not winning the group phase immediately before the knockout stages.
Half of these clubs won the competition - Borussia Dortmund (1997), Manchester United (1999) and Real Madrid (2000).
Thirty six of the 47 European Cup/Champions League Finals have been decided inside 90 minutes, four after extra time and seven matches were not decided by the end of extra time.
One-nil is the most common score in the Final. That has been sufficient 15 times.
A total of 126 goals have been scored in the finals; 50 in the first half, 68 in the second half and eight in extra time. The most popular quarter-hour section to score is between 61 and 75 minutes when 31 goals have been netted.
Only one of the 47 finals has been decided after a replay; 28 times the club scoring first has gone on to win in normal time. Three finals were goalless.
The highest score in the final was 7-3 by Real Madrid over Eintracht Frankfurt on 18 May, 1960. Real Madrid's seven goals is also the highest total by one club.
The final has seen five or more goals on five occasions but this has not happened since 1969.
Real Madrid have scored 30 times in the Finals. AC Milan are the next highest with 17.
Real Madrid's Ferenc Puskas holds the record for most goals scored in the final. He netted four times in the 1959/60 finale.
Enrique Mateos, also from Real Madrid, scored the quickest ever goal in a European Cup/Champions League Final. His strike against AC Milan in 1959 was timed at one minute.
Hampden Park boasts the record for the highest attendance in a final. Real Madrid's 7-3 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960 was watched by 134,000.
Real Madrid, who have won the European Cup/Champions League a record nine times, have also appeared in a record 12 finals.
Bob Paisley is the most successful manager is this competition. The Anfield legend led Liverpool to their successes in 1977, 1978 and 1981.
Only three trainers have won the Champions Cup/Champions League as a player and trainer. They are Miguel Muñoz, Giovanni Trapattoni and Johan Cruijff.
PLAYER FACTS
Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan) can become the first player to win the Champions League with three different clubs. He won in 1995 with Ajax and 1998 with Real Madrid.
Only six players have won European trophies with three different clubs. The last to do were Attilio Lombardo and Fernando Couto who both won their third with Lazio in the 1999 Cup Winners' Cup final.
Seven further players can win a European trophy with a second club. Of these Jon Dahl Tomasson and Pavel Nedved will not play but will still pick up their winners' medals should their club be successful.
The other five players that can do this are Fernando Redondo, Marcelo Salas, Alessandro Nesta, Edgar Davids and Lilian Thuram.
In Davids' and Redondo's cases, they will be winning the UEFA Champions League for the second time. Only five players have achieved this.
AC Milan's Paolo Maldini will be playing in his sixth final. Only Francisco Gento (8) and Alfredo di Stéfano (7) played in more.
Alessandro Costacurta will be playing in his fifth final. He will be only the third player since the 1960s to take the field in five or more finals. Only Phil Neal (Liverpool) and Costacurta's teammate Maldini have achieved this since the early days.
Paolo Maldini can win the Champions League/Champions Cup for the fourth time after successes in 1989, 1990 and 1994. Only six players have won it as much as this with Phil Neal being the last to do so in 1984.
Alessandro Costacurta will be the fifth oldest player ever in a Champions Cup/Champions League final if he plays.
Paolo Maldini, Edgar Davids and Alessandro Del Piero will all play in their fourth Champions League finals if they play.This will equal the competition record held by Didier Deschamps.
Nine other players can play in their third Champions League finals.
AC Milan's Clarence Seedorf and Fernando Redondo can both win the Champions League for the third time equalling the record of three by Raúl, Fernando Hierro, Fernando Morientes and Roberto Carlos.
Seven other players in this year's final can win the competition for the second time.
Pavel Nedved would have been the first Czech player to play in a Champions League final but his suspension means that we will have to wait for a future final to see the first Czech take part.
Milan striker Andrei Shevchenko will be the first Ukrainian player to play in a Champions League final.
If Marcelo Salas makes an appearance, he will be the first Chilean player to play in a Champions League final.
AC Milan's Kakha Kaladze can become the first Georgian player to play in a Champions League final.
Italian players should become the most represented in Champions League finals this year. Currently German players hold the record with 33 different players appearing in finals. Italy are one behind on 32 with 31 Spanish players in third place.
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Juventus are without influential playmaker Pavel Nedved, who is suspended for the Champions League final. Otherwise, coach Marcello Lippi has a full-strength squad.
AC Milan have a doubt over Brazilian goalkeeper Dida. Coach Carlo Ancelotti might continue with Christan Abbiati.
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MOST SIGNIFICANT STATS
Old Trafford proudly plays host to the showpiece climax of the European football season, as Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus battle it out to determine who will be crowned the 48th champions of Europe.
AC Milan are chasing a sixth European Cup title to keep them in second place in the all-time list, which is headed by Real Madrid with nine. Their opening victory was in 1963 when they beat Benfica 2-1 in the first European Cup Final to have been held in England. They have not lifted the famous trophy since 1994. On that occasion they defeated Barcelona 4-0 in front of 70,000 in Athens.
Juventus drew with Ajax 1-1 after extra time, and won 4-2 on penalties in 1996 - only the second time in their history they were enthroned top dogs of Europe.
This is AC Milan's ninth appearance in a European Cup/Champions Cup Final and Juventus' seventh.
These clubs have not met in European competition this season, but in the Serie A, both clubs have recorded 2-1 wins against the other. Di Vaio and Thuram put Juventus two up after 21 minutes at Stadio Delle Alphi in Turin on 10 November, and Pirlo replied from the penalty spot on 32. In the San Siro on 22 March, all the goals were again in the first half. Shevchenko put AC Milan ahead after four minutes, Tudor cancelled it out five minutes later and Inzaghi netted the winner on 25 minutes.
Juventus were formed in 1897, and entered the Italian League in 1929. In addition to their two victories in this competition, they were 1984 European Cup Winners' Cup winners and lifted the Uefa Cup in 1977, 1990 and 1993. They have won their League Championship 27 times, including this season, and claimed nine major domestic Cups.
If Juventus lose this year's final, they will become the team who have lost the most finals in the competition, jointly with Portugal's Benfica. The Portuguese club have been runners-up on five occasions with the last one being their 1990 defeat by AC Milan. Juventus have lost on four occasions, to Ajax in 1973, Hamburg in 1983, Borussia Dortmund in 1997 and Real Madrid in 1998. This places them ahead of Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid and this year's opponents AC Milan who have all lost the final of Europe's premier competition on three occasions.
AC Milan were formed in 1899 and entered Serie A in 1929. They lifted the Cup Winners' Cup in 1968 and 1973. They've won the Italian League Championship 16 times, the last being in 1999. They have also claimed four major domestic Cups.
Marcello Lippi is in his second spell as trainer of Juventus. The 65 year old coached the 1996 Champions League winning team, and has won five League titles and one domestic Cup with Juvay.
Lippi is aiming to become the third trainer to win this competition twice, following Ottmar Hitzfield (1997 Borussia Dortmund, 2001 Bayern Munich) and Vicente del Bosque (2000 , 2002 - both with Real Madrid.). He is also hoping to avoid becoming the first trainer to lose in four European finals. He lost the 1995 UEFA Cup final to Parma before also losing the 1997 and 1998 Champions League finals - all with Juventus.
Fellow Italian Carlo Ancelotti took over from Lippi at Juventus in 1999. He became trainer of AC Milan after nine games of the 2001/02 season, and is yet to claim his first honour with them as a trainer but won the Champions Cup as a player with AC Milan in 1989 and 1990.
Filippo Inazaghi is AC Milan's top scorer in the Champions League this season with ten goals. He needs a hat trick to pass Ruud van Nistelrooy's record 12 goals. The Manchester United Dutch wizard set the new mark for scoring goals in a single Champions League campaign this season. Alessandro Del Piero is Juvay's top Champions League marksman in this crusade, with five.
This is the sixth time the final of Europe's premier competition has been staged in England, but the first time away from Wembley. Old Trafford has a capacity of 67,000.
Markus Merk is due to become the seventh German to referee a European Cup/Champions League Final, meaning that Germany will have now provided the man in the middle for this prestigious match on more occasions than any other nationality. The previous German to control the final was Hellmut Krug in 1998.
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JUVENTUS
League position
CHAMPIONS Serie A 1st 72 pts
2002/2003 PERFORMANCE
P W D L GF GA
Serie A 34 21 9 4 64 29
Champions League 16 8 3 5 30 19
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS
Date Rnd Res
18 Sep 02 Phase 1 E Feyenoord 1-1 Juventus
24 Sep 02 Phase 1 E Juventus 5-0 Dynamo Kiev
1 Oct 02 Phase 1 E Juventus 2-0 Newcastle
23 Oct 02 Phase 1 E Newcastle 1-0 Juventus
29 Oct 02 Phase 1 E Juventus 2-0 Feyenoord
13 Nov 02 Phase 1 E Dynamo Kiev 1-2 Juventus
26 Nov 02 Phase 2 D Deportivo 2-2 Juventus
11 Dec 02 Phase 2 D Juventus 4-0 Basle
19 Feb 03 Phase 2 D Man Utd 2-1 Juventus
25 Feb 03 Phase 2 D Juventus 0-3 Man Utd
12 Mar 03 Phase 2 D Juventus 3-2 Deportivo
18 Mar 03 Phase 2 D Basle 2-1 Juventus
9 Apr 03 QF 1L Juventus 1-1 Barcelona
22 Apr 03 QF 2L Barcelona 1-2 Juventus
6 May 03 SF 1L Real Madrid 2-1 Juventus
14 May 03 SF 2L Juventus 3-1 Real Madrid
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JUVENTUS' CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCORERS
Player Goals
Alessandro Del Piero 5
Pavel Nedved 5
Marco Di Vaio 4
David Trezeguet 4
Alessio Tacchinardi 2
Paolo Montero 2
Marcelo Zalayeta 2
Ciro Ferrara 1
Edgar Davids 1
Alessandro Birindelli 1
Marcelo Salas 1
Igor Tudor 1
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AC MILAN
Current League position
3rd Serie A 61 pts
2002/2003 PERFORMANCE
P W D L GF GA
Serie A 34 18 7 9 55 30
Champions League 18 10 3 5 23 16
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS
Date Rnd Res
14 Aug 02 3rd Ql 1L AC Milan 1-0 Slo Liberec
28 Aug 02 3rd Ql 2L Slo Liberec 2-1 AC Milan
18 Sep 02 Phase 1 G AC Milan 2-1 RC Lens
24 Sep 02 Phase 1 G Deportivo 0-4 AC Milan
1 Oct 02 Phase 1 G Bayn Munich 1-2 AC Milan
23 Oct 02 Phase 1 G AC Milan 2-1 Bayn Munich
29 Oct 02 Phase 1 G RC Lens 2-1 AC Milan
13 Nov 02 Phase 1 G AC Milan 1-2 Deportivo
26 Nov 02 Phase 2 C AC Milan 1-0 Real Madrid
11 Dec 02 Phase 2 C Borussia D 0-1 AC Milan
19 Feb 03 Phase 2 C AC Milan 1-0 Lokom Mosc
25 Feb 03 Phase 2 C Lokom Mosc 0-1 AC Milan
12 Mar 03 Phase 2 C Real Madrid 3-1 AC Milan
18 Mar 03 Phase 2 C AC Milan 0-1 Borussia D
8 Apr 03 QF 1L Ajax 0-0 AC Milan
23 Apr 03 QF 2L AC Milan 3-2 Ajax
7 May 03 SF 1L AC Milan 0-0 Inter Milan
13 May 03 SF 2L Inter Milan 1-1 AC Milan
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AC MILAN'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCORERS
Player Goals
Filippo Inzaghi 10
Andrei Shevchenko 4
Jon Dahl Tomasson 3
Rivaldo 2
Clarence Seedorf 1
Serginho 1
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Facts and Figures
An Italian club is guaranteed to win the trophy for the tenth time, equalling the record held by Spain.
These last two additions mean that Italy have provided 23 representatives in the Champions Cup/Champions League final, more than any other country.
Italian clubs are back after four seasons without a finalist in the competition. Immediately before this, an Italian club had been in the final in seven successive seasons between 1992 and 1998.
Juventus failed to win their second phase group. Only six clubs in previous Champions Leagues have reached the final after not winning the group phase immediately before the knockout stages.
Half of these clubs won the competition - Borussia Dortmund (1997), Manchester United (1999) and Real Madrid (2000).
Thirty six of the 47 European Cup/Champions League Finals have been decided inside 90 minutes, four after extra time and seven matches were not decided by the end of extra time.
One-nil is the most common score in the Final. That has been sufficient 15 times.
A total of 126 goals have been scored in the finals; 50 in the first half, 68 in the second half and eight in extra time. The most popular quarter-hour section to score is between 61 and 75 minutes when 31 goals have been netted.
Only one of the 47 finals has been decided after a replay; 28 times the club scoring first has gone on to win in normal time. Three finals were goalless.
The highest score in the final was 7-3 by Real Madrid over Eintracht Frankfurt on 18 May, 1960. Real Madrid's seven goals is also the highest total by one club.
The final has seen five or more goals on five occasions but this has not happened since 1969.
Real Madrid have scored 30 times in the Finals. AC Milan are the next highest with 17.
Real Madrid's Ferenc Puskas holds the record for most goals scored in the final. He netted four times in the 1959/60 finale.
Enrique Mateos, also from Real Madrid, scored the quickest ever goal in a European Cup/Champions League Final. His strike against AC Milan in 1959 was timed at one minute.
Hampden Park boasts the record for the highest attendance in a final. Real Madrid's 7-3 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960 was watched by 134,000.
Real Madrid, who have won the European Cup/Champions League a record nine times, have also appeared in a record 12 finals.
Bob Paisley is the most successful manager is this competition. The Anfield legend led Liverpool to their successes in 1977, 1978 and 1981.
Only three trainers have won the Champions Cup/Champions League as a player and trainer. They are Miguel Muñoz, Giovanni Trapattoni and Johan Cruijff.
PLAYER FACTS
Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan) can become the first player to win the Champions League with three different clubs. He won in 1995 with Ajax and 1998 with Real Madrid.
Only six players have won European trophies with three different clubs. The last to do were Attilio Lombardo and Fernando Couto who both won their third with Lazio in the 1999 Cup Winners' Cup final.
Seven further players can win a European trophy with a second club. Of these Jon Dahl Tomasson and Pavel Nedved will not play but will still pick up their winners' medals should their club be successful.
The other five players that can do this are Fernando Redondo, Marcelo Salas, Alessandro Nesta, Edgar Davids and Lilian Thuram.
In Davids' and Redondo's cases, they will be winning the UEFA Champions League for the second time. Only five players have achieved this.
AC Milan's Paolo Maldini will be playing in his sixth final. Only Francisco Gento (8) and Alfredo di Stéfano (7) played in more.
Alessandro Costacurta will be playing in his fifth final. He will be only the third player since the 1960s to take the field in five or more finals. Only Phil Neal (Liverpool) and Costacurta's teammate Maldini have achieved this since the early days.
Paolo Maldini can win the Champions League/Champions Cup for the fourth time after successes in 1989, 1990 and 1994. Only six players have won it as much as this with Phil Neal being the last to do so in 1984.
Alessandro Costacurta will be the fifth oldest player ever in a Champions Cup/Champions League final if he plays.
Paolo Maldini, Edgar Davids and Alessandro Del Piero will all play in their fourth Champions League finals if they play.This will equal the competition record held by Didier Deschamps.
Nine other players can play in their third Champions League finals.
AC Milan's Clarence Seedorf and Fernando Redondo can both win the Champions League for the third time equalling the record of three by Raúl, Fernando Hierro, Fernando Morientes and Roberto Carlos.
Seven other players in this year's final can win the competition for the second time.
Pavel Nedved would have been the first Czech player to play in a Champions League final but his suspension means that we will have to wait for a future final to see the first Czech take part.
Milan striker Andrei Shevchenko will be the first Ukrainian player to play in a Champions League final.
If Marcelo Salas makes an appearance, he will be the first Chilean player to play in a Champions League final.
AC Milan's Kakha Kaladze can become the first Georgian player to play in a Champions League final.
Italian players should become the most represented in Champions League finals this year. Currently German players hold the record with 33 different players appearing in finals. Italy are one behind on 32 with 31 Spanish players in third place.
nice articles, took a while to read but worth it. check this article out: http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/final2003/News/Kind=16384/newsId=71551.html
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