'Grande Juve, grande Italia'

'Juve delight'
After Juventus FC joined AC Milan in an all-Italian final, the Corriere and its rival sports dailies, the Gazzetta dello Sport and Tuttosport, led a chorus of approval for both clubs. First Juventus. Their defeat of holders Real Madrid CF on Wednesday was grist to the mill for Italy's headline writers: "Juve delight", "Juve are the real dream team" and "A football lesson" being the foremost examples of their work.

Back on top
For the Corriere, the Bianconeri's victory - 3-1 on the night, 4-3 on aggregate - was proof that Italy's football reputation is riding high again. "It's true there is a time for everything," it said. "A time for not winning in Europe and a time to return to dominate on the continent. A time for failing with the national team and a time to return to the top of the European game with our clubs."

'Fantastic night'
Meanwhile, the Gazzetta reflected on a "fantastic night that changed the history of Italian football". "Almost everything that was good about this match came from Juve," it said. "It is hard to think of a better European night in the last ten years."

War of words
The paper saw Madrid's defeat as an invitation to launch the latest salvo in the war of words between Spanish and Italian journalists over whose football is the more beautiful. "They have been laughing about us for months, as if a footballing Moses had handed them the rules of the game. Now they are on their knees."

Sympathy for Nedved
But spare a thought for Juve's Pavel Nedved. The scorer of his team's decisive third goal will miss the final through suspension after picking up an 82nd-minute booking. "I won't play in the final and I am so sad I could die," Nedved told the press. Tuttosport said: "Football has never been so beautiful and so cruel at the same time. A great man was left sad and alone."

Milan win on points
On Wednesday, the Corriere had led the applause for Milan following their away goals win against Internazionale FC. Under the headline "Rossoneri through on a night of high emotions", the paper wrote: "Milan are deservedly in the final after a points victory which left little room for argument. They were the more authoritative team."

Good in theory
However, the Gazzetta said Milan owed their passage to Manchester to Andriy Shevchenko, scorer of the vital away goal. Obafemi Martins' late equaliser meant that "Inter were close to an incredible comeback". "Over the 180 minutes," the paper continued, "Milan's superiority was more theoretic than concrete."

Italian lesson
Meanwhile, the Spanish media were left to pick through the debris of Madrid's defeat. According to Marca, Vicente del Bosque's "white stars" fell into a "black hole" at the Delle Alpi. "Juventus were the much better team," it said, adding that: "Italy taught us a lesson. This was not 'catenaccio' or dirty football; they had more ambition and played to win."

'Disaster in Turin'
The AS newspaper spoke of "disaster in Turin" and highlighted Madrid's defensive deficiencies. One writer went as far as to say, "Hierro go home" - pointing the finger of blame at the veteran Fernando Hierro. However, Marca insisted there should be collective responsibility. "From the gaffer, Vicente del Bosque, to the last of the 13 players used, Real Madrid fell apart in a quite incredible way," it said.

Spanish woe
The Spanish press had been hoping for a Milan-Madrid final. Milan's Clarence Seedorf even told Marca: "The final everyone wants is against Madrid." Now they must make do with an all-Itailan affair.