The Italian media collectively relished the prospect of AC Milan's Champions League final rematch with Liverpool and mocked Manchester United's beaten stars after the Rossoneri secured their place in the final.

The Rossoneri won rave reviews today for beating United 3-0 at the San Siro to progress 5-3 on aggregate, with historic comparisons made to previous Milan sides - their tally of six European Cup

wins is bettered only by Real Madrid with nine.

Top sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport drew a comparison with the great Milan side of the 1980s with its headline "Grande, Grande, Grande" (Great, great, great).

The Milan team of the 1980s - featuring Dutch trio Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard, evergreen duo Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta (those two are still on the playing staff) and current coach Carlo Ancelotti - is remembered fondly in Italy as "Il Grande Milan" (the great Milan)."

However, it was a member of the new generation that dominated pictorially with a giant photo of Brazilian Kaka, who scored twice at Old Trafford and the opener in the return at the San Siro.

Gazzetta savoured Milan's mastery of United, with a sub-header: "Historic night at the San Siro. The Rossoneri dominate Cristiano Ronaldo's team. Milan stratospheric against Manchester."

Kaka and fellow goalscorers Clarence Seedorf and Alberto Gilardino were singled out for praise.

The chance to avenge their 2005 final defeat at Liverpool, who came back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 before winning on penalties, was also savoured by the paper.

"They are back with Liverpool two years after Istanbul," gloated Gazzetta. "United were never in the game and the final with Liverpool is a reward for a marvellous Milan."

The paper's former editor and senior journalist Candido Cannavo admitted he had wanted a Milan-Liverpool final.

In a letter beginning "Dear Rafa Benitez" Cannavo wrote of his feelings when watching Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties 24 hours earlier in the other semi-final.

Cannavo wrote: "I confess the other night when we were watching the penalties which was not a lottery but an occasion for strong men, I admit that I supported your Liverpool especially when I saw you [Benitez] sitting on the pitch."

Cannavo claimed his dislike of Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and the desire for Milan to get revenge over Liverpool were his reasons for supporting the Reds.

"I admit I had motivations not only because of the merit of your team but also because of my dislike for Mourinho," wrote Cannavo, whose prominence is such in Italy that he is routinely lampooned by TV impersonators.

"Besides that, there is the bad and brutal joke that you and your Liverpool played on Milan in the final of 2005."

The United players were not spared, with Nemanja Vidic and Cristiano Ronaldo getting only four in the player ratings and Wayne Rooney five.

Vidic was at least spared some of the blame with Gazzetta instead criticising Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to start with a player who has been injured of late.

"To have played him in the starting line-up after a long injury was a disastrous idea," said the paper.

The verdict on Ronaldo and Rooney was scathing.

"His first touch was bad just as the rest of his game," opined the paper of the Portuguese international. As for Rooney, he was "like a domestic pet rather than the lion we saw at Old Trafford".

Corriere dello Sport headlined its paper simply: "Meraviglioso Milan" (Marvellous Milan).

Tuttosport had "Milanissimo" as its main title.

The paper continued: "Manchester United destroyed 3-0 - now in the final they [Milan] meet Liverpool again."

Tuttosport pointed out that the players from Manchester - a city that has a reputation for rain - looked out of sorts in the torrential conditions.

"In the pouring rain the Rossoneri stars came out while the English ones faded," crowed the paper.

La Repubblica, a left-leaning newspaper, was already looking forward to the Athens final.

"Milan-Liverpool in the final," read the main headline. "Ancelotti will meet the English club that took away the Cup in 2005."

Looking back at the game, the paper said: "Great game at the San Siro. The stars of United humiliated."

The paper singled out Kaka for praise, saying: "This kid looks like [former Holland great Johan] Cruyff."