Maldini on course for Athens showdown

VETERAN AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini is confident he will be able to play in a record-breaking eighth Champions League final next Wednesday.

The 38-year-old has been taking things easy recently because of a niggling knee injury, casting a shadow over his participation in the showdown with Liverpool.

But he has now begun a personal training regime aimed at damage limitation to allow him to play for – and captain – Milan in their biggest game of the season in Athens.