Match preview

Long wait over 
That the final is an all-Italian affair, between that country's two most titled teams, is appropriate given that this campaign has marked the return to prominence of Serie A clubs. Five years have elapsed since an Italian side contested the European football showpiece, so for two to get there represents a tremendous achievement.

Double vision 
Juventus, calcio's previous finalist in 1998 when they lost against Real Madrid CF, took belated revenge for that defeat by knocking out the holders in this year's semi-finals. Now Marcello Lippi's men are 90 minutes away from claiming the double of European Champion Clubs' Cup and Scudetto, having secured the Italian title with two games to spare. It is a feat which only Internazionale FC and Milan have managed in the past, in 1965 and 1994 respectively.

Former glories 
That was the last time Milan won the trophy, but while Juventus have been to three finals since, the Rossoneri remain Italy's outstanding contributor to the competition. The San Siro outfit have been European champions on five occasions, the Bianconeri twice. However, former glories will count for nothing when the teams go under the spotlight at Manchester United FC's 'Theatre of Dreams'.

Irresistible force 
Milan midfield player Gennaro Gattuso acknowledged the size of the task facing Carlo Ancelotti's side, saying: "Juve are a great team, with great players, and have been irresistible in the league. They don't let up for 90 minutes and they all seem to know each other so well." Having witnessed Juventus's domestic dominance at close hand this season, Gattuso added: "They are frightening. But it is a dream final for us, one I will be proud to play in."

Style and substance
Juventus will be many people's favourites following their impressive win against Madrid. Certainly, that victory should have put paid to the criticism of Italian teams which has been a feature of this Champions League campaign. In Turin, Lippi's men displayed the style to go with the substance that had underpinned their quarter-final triumph over FC Barcelona. Not bad for a team who had struggled to keep pace with United in the second group stage, although they had been convincing winners of their earlier section against Newcastle United FC, FC Dynamo Kyiv and Feyenoord.

Milan magic
Milan have arguably made the smoother progress, winning both their groups at the expense of such luminaries as RC Deportivo La Coruña and FC Bayern München in the autumn, and Madrid in the spring. Then came the dramatic last-eight win over AFC Ajax, when Jon Dahl Tomasson struck deep into added time, and the tense semi-final success against Inter.

Back on top
Whatever the routes taken to Manchester, the final leg of the journey is all that matters now. Italian national coach Giovanni Trapattoni explained: "It will be an historic final. We had been out of the European élite but nobody can criticise us now. Yes, we play a different style of football. But we have different values and results are what we care about." In 2002/03, Italian football quite clearly got one.