Athens the immediate test and ultimate goal for AC Milan

THE long road to the 2007 Champions League final in Athens starts for AC Milan with a game against a side from the host city tonight.

AEK Athens arrive at the San Siro as the Rossoneri’s first opponents of a campaign the club hope will end with a trip to the Greek capital.

With an eight-point penalty hanging around their neck in Serie A, the Champions League has assumed a higher responsibility for Carlo Ancelotti’s side this season.

Although their arrears have already been reduced to five points thanks to a 2-1 win over Lazio at the weekend, they still trail city rivals and Serie A favourites Internazionale by eight points — so their most likely shot at silverware comes in Europe.

“The Champions League is always a fascinating and difficult competition,” admitted full-back Serginho.

“That is the case also against AEK, which is a club with pride who will come to Milan hoping to win. We need to assert our qualities on the game and use our strength.”

Due to the insecurity over their future, AC Milan spent a quiet summer in the transfer market. Initially pulled out of Europe due to the first conclusions of the match-fixing scandal, Milan earned a lifeline when a successful appeal led to a reduction in the initial sentence.

A two-leg win over Red Star Belgrade in the qualifiers completed their return to the Champions League and allowed the club to loosen the purse strings in the final week before the transfer deadline.

However, by that time they had already missed out on their main targets.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hernan Crespo both chosen Inter, but Milan did delve deep to sign Ricardo Oliveira from Real Betis for e15 million.

And the Brazilian striker scored on his debut at the weekend.

Serginho said: “I am delighted for him and a goal on your debut at the San Siro in front of our fans is very important, particularly for a striker.

“He showed his quality and is another Brazilian to come to Milan who I think will be here for a while.”

Oliveira is likely to make his Champions League debut alongside the prolific Filippo Inzaghi, whose goals got Milan into Group H.

AEK boss Lorenzo Serra Ferrer takes his team to the San Siro with concerns about his players’ profligacy in front of goal, which has seen them yet to win in the Greek Superleague.

“I have to say that in terms of finishing, we do not have the level that we would want,” said Serra Ferrer, whose team lie 10th in the Superleague after scoring just twice in their first three matches.

“But each day, we are working on this aspect so that we find the percentage that we want in terms of converting chances into goals. I expect things to go well for us and we certainly have the confidence that we will do the best that we can against Milan.”

Serra Ferrer has virtually a fully fit squad to choose from, with the only absentee being Ifeani Udeze. The Nigerian defender is sidelined with a knee injury.

Tonight’s Champions League action (7.45pm)

Group E: Dynamo Kiev v Steaua Bucharest, Lyon v Real Madrid.

Group F: Manchester United v Celtic, FC Copenhagen v Benfica.

Group G: Porto v CSKA Moscow, Hamburg v Arsenal.

Group H: Anderlecht v Lille, AC Milan v AEK.