Athens is exactly as advertised. Humid, crowed and chaotic. Monday night in the Monastiraki area was quite interesting. There were plenty of AC Milan fans enjoying the nightlife. More, in fact, than we saw in the days before the prequel in Istanbul. They appear fairly relaxed. It’s a contrast to two years ago, when the hangover of Heysel played a large part in their approach to the trip to Turkey. They are happy to flaunt their colours now, where they seemed to be trying to fade into the background in 2005. Let’s hope that they have the full complement at the Olympic Stadium tomorrow.

It seems that Italian airports have suffered problems and up to 7,000 Milan supporters could struggle to make the journey to Greece because of industrial action. The Italian media are in a froth over the issue and there are real fears that there will be empty seats in the ground. Still, all the corporate types appear to have arrived safely, so there can’t be too much wrong with the world, can there, Uefa?

Greek jibes miss their target
The Greeks have no concept of what might have been. They are a friendly bunch except for a minority who are keen to bait Liverpool fans. On a number of occassions last night, locals shouted “Manchester” at us in an agressive manner. Twice, I happened to be in the company of Mancunian journalists, United fans. They responded with smiles and thumbs-up, to the evident disappointment of the Greeks. Today, in Omonia Square, a local youth was lurking, trying to look tough, with a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “Manchester Football Club”. He could not understand why the Liverpool fans were laughing at him.

“Manchester,” he said. “Turkey,” they laughed back. At that point he was off, happy to settle for the draw.

Let's not get complacent, lads
The mood is very different from the demented party atmosphere of Istanbul. Then, the previous European Cup final for Liverpool was 20 years distant. Most of us had given up hope of ever seeing the team in the big game again. Plus, there was the shadow of Heysel, given even more resonance by playing Juventus in the quarter-finals. Unlike the capital of Turkey, Athens is not pulsing with a desperate craving for victory.

It’s just a game. A big game, but a game. After all, we’ll be back every couple of years, won’t we? It’s a mood of complacency I recognise from the late 1970s and early 80s, encouraged by a system that gives even teams that stagger over the line in fourth place in the league a chance to get to Europe’s biggest game. The best way to treat it? Enjoy the final as if you’ll never get back. It’s not that easy. Just ask Arsenal. Or those with Greek allies from Manchester Football Club.

Soaking the atmosphere cannot beat the real thing
There’s a distinct lack of Scousers in Athens as of Tuesday afternoon. There are lots of Liverpool supporters, red-shirted and proud, but they give a sense of how globalised football support has become. An entire babel of accents is coming from the Redmen roaming the city and the hunt for tickets has been less frantic than expected, even though most Liverpool fans questioned are without the precious passports to the Olympic Stadium. It may well change when the Scouse invasion kicks in but it’s almost as if a new phenonema is in action. Once, the shared experience of football came from being in the ground for the game. Now, it’s enough to be in the same city, to share the build-up. Actually being in the stadium does not seem to be the most important part of the event for some. Well, to those who feel that way, enjoy Athens. Me? I need to be in that ground.

Banner ban does not bode well
One of the best things about Istanbul was the policing. With football fans, the local constabulary is offered a choice of interepreting behaviour. Is it a huge party or a massive case of drunk and disorderly? The Turks thought it was party time. Today, in a very quiet Omonia Square, the Athens police made Liverpool fans take down their single banner because it was tied to a shrub. It does not bode well. There hadn’t even been any chanting or drinking at that point in early afternoon. You could see the shock in the head-shaking of the supporters as they removed the flag. Let’s hope it’s not a bad omen...

Pele backed the Italians? Pop the corks!
In today’s Times, Pele tipped Milan to win tomorrow. Make space for that sixth European Cup at Anfield, then. This is the man who tipped Colombia for the 1994 World Cup. Those stuck at northern Italian airports might as well collect their belongings and go home.