It was a spectacular night of top-class football that came as a disappointment to those who had pinned their hopes on Liverpool being crowned European champions for a record-equaling sixth time.

The stunning Olympic Stadium in Athens was filled to the brim, with the surrounding streets jam-packed. There were serious crowd disturbances before the match and many Liverpool followers had come with counterfeit match tickets. But after all the turmoil, the match began following a glittering ceremony.

AC Milan were hunting for their seventh European title whereas Liverpool were looking to repeat their 2005 feat against the Rossoneri in Istanbul. The match began with Liverpool attacking in the ominous style they had shown in Europe this season. Xabi Alonso gave Milan goalkeeper Dida a run for his life with a shot just wide of the post.

But Alonso turned out to be the villain just before half-time with an illegitimate tackle on Kaka just outside the Liverpool penalty box. Andrea Pirlo took the free-kick for Milan and Filippo Inzaghi breezed it past Pepe Reina.

The first half ended with Milan a goal ahead. Liverpool again showed aggression in the second half and Steven Gerrard missed a close one when he couldn’t find a way past Dida. It was Inzaghi again who virtually sealed the match with a splendid goal some ten minutes from time.

Liverpool finally scored with one minute to go when Dirk Kuyt converted a corner. It was too late, though, and Milan avenged their defeat in the 2005 final. Clarence Seedorf became the first player in European history to lift the trophy representing three different clubs (earlier for Ajax and Real Madrid). Paolo Maldini proved once again why he is the mainstay for the Italian side, with both his and Alessandro Nesta’s experience proving decisive. Carlo Ancelotti was equally delighted and there was a heroic welcome back in Milan for the Italian side. It was a sense of deja-vu after ’94, when they had thrashed Barcelona 4-0 in the same stadium.