UPDATED ON:
Monday, May 21, 2007
18:28 Mecca time, 15:28 GMT
Sport
Sides hope to avoid penalties

Athens: A postcard setting for the final [GALLO/GETTY]

Both AC Milan and Liverpool agree that they would like less dramatic UEFA Champions League final than the 2005 version.
 
The Italians won't even consider another penalty shootout.
 
Since beating Juventus on penalties to win its last Champions League title in 2003, Milan has lost three straight shootouts.
In 2003, Juventus got revenge in the Italian Supercup; and Boca Juniors beat Milan in the Intercontinental Cup a few months later.
 
Then came Jerzy Dudek's save on Andriy Shevchenko in the 2005 final in Istanbul, Turkey giving Liverpool an amazing comeback victory after being down 3-0 at halftime.

And with Jose Reina now between the sticks for Liverpool, the Merseysiders would be seen as favourites should the match go to penalties.

"We are not thinking about penalties but if it happens, we will have to strike the ball better than we did in Istanbul," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti.

While Kaka has converted all three penalties Milan has been awarded in this season's Champions League, the squad has missed three of five in Serie A.

And while Liverpool are looking for the same result as they final in 2005, this time they hope it will be a little bit easier.

"You couldn't make it up"

Rafa Benitez' team edged AC Milan in a penalty shootout in Istanbul two years ago after falling behind 3-0 at halftime.

"AC Milan again, you couldn't make it up," said Liverpool leftback John Arne Riise.

"Hopefully it will not be the same first half as last time, but we get the same result."

Liverpool midfielder Harry Kewell: A
possibility for a surprise start on Wednesday
[GALLO/GETTY]

The Norwegian played all 120 minutes of that 3-3 final at the Ataturk Stadium and also had a penalty saved in the shootout before Liverpool won it 3-2.

"It was the best night ever for me personally as a football player," Riise said.

"To be able to win the European trophy is unbelievable. I don't remember a thing about the game. It's after the game and the penalties I remember."

Benitez hopes that none of the current lineup who played in that final will cast their minds back to the first half.

After Paolo Maldini's first-minute goal, Hernan Crespo scored two more before halftime.

But three goals in six minutes from Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso wiped out that Milan lead and set up a thrilling finale.

Finally, Herbert Fandel will be the referee for Wednesday's final.

The 43-year-old German, a referee in the Bundesliga since 1996, officiated last year's UEFA Cup final between Seville and Middlesbrough.

He has refereed 17 Champions League games and 69 international matches in his career.

 Source: Agencies
 
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