Champions League Final betting tips

Two clubs synonymous with success on the European stage go head to head in a Champions League Final for the second time in the last three seasons when Liverpool and AC Milan clash at the Olympic Stadium in Athens on Wednesday evening, and the latter side are favourites at a best-priced 7/5. The 2005 final was the only previous occasion in which the Milanese outfit and Pool have gone head to head, and the eight AC players who were involved in that match will still to this day wonder how they failed to prevail having been 3-0 up at one point during the game. Indeed, Liverpool fought back to force an unlikely 3-3 draw, before going on to capture the most glittering prize in club football for the fifth in their history in a thrilling penalty shootout which they won by three goals to two, following the heroics of out-of-favour goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek. Carlo Ancelotti's men have a score to settle. And Ancelotti, who is one of an elite quintet to have won this competition as a player and manager, has turned up the heat ahead of the game by accusing Liverpool of being the least technically gifted of the three English sides that reached the semi-final stage. Such comments are unlikely to weigh heavy on the shoulders of the Reds' manager Rafa Benitez, however. Rafa has navigated his charges to Athens, despite being drawn against Barcelona and Chelsea in the last two rounds, the two sides that were originally favourites to lift the trophy this term. Benitez has few peers when it comes to tactical nous, of that there is no doubt. But Milan, Champions League winners on six occasions, have looked the sharper side en route to the final. And as much as I would like to see Liverpool emerge victorious, I am confident that it will be Milan's night. In the shape of midfield maestro Kaka, the Italians possess a genuine match-winner. The Brazilian, who is the competition's leading scorer this season, scored three of his team's five goals in the two legs of the semi-final against Manchester United, and, once again, I reckon he'll take centre stage. Benitez is likely to deploy Javier Mascherano in the centre of the park in an attempt to contain Kaka, perhaps alongside Alonso with Steven Gerard starting on the right flank. Mascherano has improved no end since arriving at Anfield, but whether he's up to the task of thwarting Kaka is most doubtful. Much has been made of the fact that many of Milan's key players are now in the twilight of their careers. However, with age comes experience and the likes of Paolo Maldini, Cafu and Filipo Inzaghi are all still playing with great zest despite their advancing years. I envisage this being a tight, tense match, and would be surprised if a goal feast were to ensue, as both sides boast strong defences. This is likely to be settled by a single goal, which I believe will be scored by Milan. As such, the 13/2 Blue Square offer about AC winning by a goal to nil is the way to go. Verdict - 1pt AC Milan to win 1-0 @ 13/2