Maldini honing in on another record

Athens, Greece:

Paolo Maldini is set to play in his eighth Champions League final.

The 38-year-old AC Milan captain missed the second leg of the semifinals against Manchester United due to his recurring knee problems, but he played an hour of a Serie A match against Catania nine days ago.

"Maldini is fine. If we were playing the game today he would be on the field," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said as the team traveled to Athens for Wednesday's match.

If he does play, Maldini will join Francisco Gento - Real Madrid's legendary winger of the 1950s and 60s - as the only players to appear in eight finals.

Milan has won four of seven previous finals with Maldini. Gento won six and his teammates Alfredo Di Stefano and Jose Maria Zarraga won five each.

Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf is bidding to become the first player to win the trophy four times since the competition was renamed the Champions League in 1993. He's already won the title with Ajax in 1995, with Real Madrid in '98, and with Milan in 2003.