Milan held as coach looks to Champions League

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti gave a big clue to his starting line-up for Wednesday’s Champions League final with Liverpool in Istanbul when he fielded a virtual reserve side against Palermo.

Ancelotti’s decision to play with his second string in effect handed the Serie A title to Juventus as Milan were held 3-3.

A victory for Milan would have kept them in the hunt, mathematically at least.

Of the 11 players who started the match at the San Siro only Hernan Crespo might be expected to feature in the starting XI on Wednesday in Turkey.

Crespo was substituted after 63 minutes by Filippo Inzaghi in an indication that he might start on Wednesday alongside European footballer of the year Andriy Shevchenko.

Likely AC Milan starting line-up for Champions League final: Dida, Cafu, Alessandro Nesta, Jaap Stam, Paolo Maldini, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Kaka, Clarence Seedorf, Hernan Crespo, Andriy Shevchenko.