@_datdeptrais1tg: The 2006/2007 season marked one of the most glorious chapters in Andrea Pirlo's career at AC Milan, culminating in the UEFA Champions League title in Athens. Despite the club facing domestic struggles due to the Calciopoli scandal, Pirlo remained the indispensable "brain" of manager Carlo Ancelotti's renowned "Christmas tree" formation (4-3-2-1). A final for redemption: Milan defeated Liverpool 2-1 in Athens to claim the trophy. Decisive moment: It was Pirlo's free-kick in the 45th minute that deflected off Filippo Inzaghi to open the scoring. Contribution: He started 11 matches in European competition that season, dictating the tempo and orchestrating play alongside Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf. Relentless workload: Pirlo was Milan's most-used player that season, logging a total of 2,782 minutes across all competitions. Position: He continued to refine his role as a deep-lying playmaker stationed just in front of the defense. Partners: Gattuso's tenacity and Seedorf's all-round intelligence freed Pirlo up, allowing him to execute long, incisive passes that tore apart the opposition's defense. #pirlo #andreapirlo #maldini #nesta