AC Milan	0-0	Juventus
Goalless after 120 minutes
AC Milan win 3-2 on penalties
Champions League final 2003

Scott Barefoot reports

In the end it was as Italian as pasta, panettone and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in one.

The red and black stripes of AC Milan drape the European Cup for the sixth time after they beat Serie A rivals Juventus in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after 120 minutes of defences on top.

Milan goalkeeper Dida saved three of Juventus' five penalties while Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko calmly scored the winning spot-kick to clinch victory for coach Carlo Ancelotti's team.

But the event, the biggest on the domestic calendar and garnished with singers, dancers, huge inflatable footballs and the like, never really entertained in the way so many had hoped.

The last time Old Trafford staged a Champions League game it involved Ronaldo romping to a hat-trick, as Manchester United and Real Madrid traded goals like Panini stickers.

Unsurprisingly, there was no such feast in the final.

But after a wait of nine years, the Rossoneri scramble back to the top of football's mountain, and Juventus return to the Alps with tears in their eyes after their season stretched a game too far.

Juve, the Serie A champions, were slight favourites, but they looked heavy-legged during the two hours of high-octane combat, whereas AC, and in particular Rino Gattuso, willingly chomped up ground.

Shevchenko enjoys victory

Thus Milan had the better of the match and can take their crown without guilt. Ancelotti's unashamedly defensive decision to start with the likes of Rivaldo and Serghino on the bench cannot be questioned either, though it shouldn't be admired.

Shattered Juve can point their fingers at the ridiculous ruling that continues to starve the biggest stage in European football of its starlight names.

Pavel Nedved, arguably Juve's most influential player, was sidelined due to the yellow card he picked up in the semi-final triumph over Real Madrid.

In retrospect, that was where their chances died.

Without his energy, the Old Lady at times looked haggard, and Allessandro Del Piero, though cool under immense pressure in the shoot-out, failed to make his mark on the final. The same can be said for David Trezeguet.

Their lack of punch can also be put down to AC Milan's solidity at the back. Veterans Paolo Maldini and Billy Costacurta turned in a vintage performance that belied their combined age of 72.

As a result, skipper Maldini picked up his fourth European Cup winners' medal and emulated the achievement of his papa, Cesare, who collected the trophy for AC at Wembley in 1963. Like father, like son indeed.

Clarence Seedorf also makes history. He is the first ever player to win a European Cup final with three different clubs after tasting victory with Ajax and Real Madrid in the 1990s.

The accomplishments of Maldini and Seedorf will easily dwarf the memory of the action that was served up. The cheers of AC's ecstatic fans will also fail to drown out the know-it-all sceptics' collective 'told-you-so'.

The game was billed as the night Serie A would show the world that it had changed, that Italian football was a place where attacking football now flourishes. But when the stakes are this high, old habits die hard.

But it's only pain for Buffon

In truth, it is the Cheivos and Lazios that have provided the entertainment on the peninsula. The teams that win the trophies remain entrenched in old school philosophies. And they know PR can be put on hold.

AC shaded the battles across the pitch; in defence, midfield and up front they did just about enough to repress Juve. Thus on that basis they are genuine champions.

They certainly started the faster. Shevchenko had an early first-half effort disallowed for offside and team-mates Filippo Inzaghi and Maldini also went close with headers.

Substitute Antonio Conte had the best effort for Juventus, heading against the crossbar two minutes into the second half, just after coming off the bench.

But extra time saw both teams retreat into their defensive shells, thus the possibility of the goal that was needed to really make this contest come alive disappeared.

In the shoot-out, Milan got the upper hand virtually straight away when Dida saved Trezeguet's opening kick, only for Buffon to level it up by keeping out Seedorf's effort three shots later.

Dida, though, pulled off another flying stop to deny Marcelo Zalayeta, only for Buffon to save Kakha Kaladze's shot. But Dida was not to be denied and he prevented Paolo Montero's shot entering the net.

Step forward Nesta and Shevchenko. Step forward AC Milan. And, hopefully, move forward Italian football with the confidence a European Cup provides. But don't bet on it.

AC Milan: Dida, Costacurta (Roque Junior 65), Nesta, Maldini, Kaladze, Gattuso, Rui Costa (Ambrosini 87), Seedorf, Pirlo (Serginho 70), Shevchenko, Inzaghi.
Subs Not Used: Abbiati, Rivaldo, Laursen, Brocchi.
Booked: Costacurta.

Juventus: Buffon, Ferrara, Montero, Tudor (Birindelli 42), Zambrotta, Thuram, Tacchinardi, Davids (Zalayeta 65), Camoranesi (Conte 45), Del Piero, Trezeguet.
Subs Not Used: Chimenti, Pessotto, Iuliano, Di Vaio.
Booked: Tacchinardi, Del Piero.

Att: 63,215
Ref: Markus Merk (Germany).