The 2007 UEFA Champions League final was the concluding match of the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League season, the 52nd season of Europe’s premier club football tournament and the 15th organized under the UEFA Champions League title. The final was contested by Italian club AC Milan and English club Liverpool FC on 23 May 2007 at the Olympic Stadium (Athens Olympic Stadium) in Athens, Greece.
Match details
| Aspect | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 May 2007 |
| Venue | Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece |
| Attendance | 58 428 |
| Referee | Ľuboš Micheľ (Slovakia) |
| Teams | AC Milan (Italy) vs. Liverpool FC (England) |
| Final score | AC Milan 2 – 1 Liverpool (after extra time) |
| Goal scorers | • Filippo Inzaghi (Milan) – 45′ (half‑time) • Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) – 68′ • Filippo Inzaghi (Milan) – 109′ (extra time) |
| Man of the match* | Filippo Inzaghi (Milan) |
| UEFA competition record | AC Milan secured their seventh European Cup/Champions League title, becoming the first club to retain the trophy since AC Milan’s consecutive wins in 1993–94. |
*The designation of “Man of the match” aligns with contemporary UEFA reports.
Route to the final
- AC Milan reached the final by defeating Manchester United 5–3 on aggregate in the semi‑finals (2–1 home win, 3–2 away loss but progressed on aggregate).
- Liverpool FC advanced by overcoming Chelsea 5–3 on aggregate in the semi‑finals (1–2 away loss, 4–1 home win).
Significance
- The victory reinforced AC Milan’s status as one of Europe’s most successful clubs, adding a seventh continental title to their record.
- The match marked the first Champions League final overseen by a Slovakian referee and the first final held in Greece.
- It was the last Champions League final to be decided by a goal scored in extra time; subsequent finals have been settled within regular time or via penalty shoot‑outs.
Historical context
- The 2007 final was the second meeting between AC Milan and Liverpool in a European Cup final, the first being the 2005 final, which Liverpool won on penalties after a 3–3 draw after extra time.
- The 2007 final is often referenced for Inzaghi’s decisive 109th‑minute goal, which secured the win for Milan in the final minutes of extra time.
