Scholes risks final ban repeat

Having already missed one UEFA Champions League final through suspension, Manchester United FC midfielder Paul Scholes will be hoping lightning does not strike twice on Wednesday when he goes into the second leg of his side's semi-final against AC Milan one yellow card away from another ban.

Ronaldo concern
Scholes and team-mate Roy Keane were both suspended for United's 2-1 victory against FC Bayern München in the 1999 final after being booked in the second leg of their semi-final win against Juventus. The 32-year-old will be one of eleven players desperate to avoid that situation this week. As well as Scholes, who was sent off against AS Roma in the quarter-finals after collecting two other cautions in the group stage, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be keeping a careful eye on star man Cristiano Ronaldo and Gabriel Heinze, who tread the same disciplinary tightrope. Defender Patrice Evra is the only player banned from either semi-final after seeing yellow in the first leg at Old Trafford.

Chelsea fear
Paolo Maldini is the solitary Milan player with disciplinary concerns, though his participation at San Siro next week is in doubt after the captain aggravated an injury on Tuesday. In the other semi-final, Chelsea FC have most to fear with Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Lassana Diarra and Joe Cole, who scored the only goal of the first leg against Liverpool FC, all on one yellow card. Jermaine Pennant and Javier Mascherano are in a similar position for Liverpool.

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