Soccer-Champions League final facts and figures

ATHENS, May 21 (Reuters) - Facts and figures relating to the Champions League final between AC Milan and Liverpool in Athens on Wednesday:

-- Athens is staging the final of Europe's premier club competition for the third time following the finals of 1983 and 1994.

-- Both of those finals also featured an Italian club with Hamburg SV defeating Juventus 1-0 in 1983 and Milan beating Barcelona 4-0 13 years ago. Athens' port district of Pireaus also played host to the Cup Winners's Cup finals in 1971, 1973 -- when Milan beat Leeds United 1-0 -- and 1987.

-- Milan have already played a Champions League match in Athens this season, losing a group stage match 1-0 to AEK on Nov. 21 last year.

-- This is the 52nd final since the competition began as the European Cup in 1955-56, with AC Milan making their 11th appearance and attempting to win the trophy for the seventh time.

-- Their six previous successes were in 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994 and 2003 and their losing appearances came in 1958, 1993, 1995 and 2005 -- against Liverpool.

-- Liverpool are making their seventh appearance in the final, having won the trophy in 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984 and 2005 against Milan. They lost in 1985.

-- It will be Liverpool's fourth successive European Cup final against Italian opposition after facing AS Roma in 1984, Juventus in 1985 and Milan in 2005. Milan have played two finals against English clubs -- against Leeds in the 1973 Cup Winners' Cup and Liverpool in the Champions League.

-- If he overcomes a knee problem and plays Paolo Maldini will appear in his eighth final for Milan, winning in 1989, 1990, 1994 and 2003 and losing in 1993, 1995 and 2005.