MILAN, May 24 - Italian newspapers went wild on Thursday for AC Milan's seventh European Cup triumph and even dared to mention the word revenge.

Milan had been keen to play down the idea of vengeance in the run-up to the final against Liverpool but the press had no doubt that the 2-1 win in Athens had soothed memories of the defeat on penalties to the same side in the 2005 final.

"Revenge on Liverpool, Milan the champions," was La Repubblica's simple take on Wednesday's match.

"There you go," ran Gazzetta dello Sport's front-page headline, followed by seven exclamation marks -- one for each of their seven Cups.

Most of the main photographs showed 38-year-old captain Paolo Maldini holding the trophy aloft with his fifth winners' medal around his neck. "He is immortal," said Gazzetta.

There was barely a mention in any paper that Liverpool had dominated for much of the match or that Filippo Inzaghi's first goal had been slightly fortuitous as Andrea Pirlo's free kick ricocheted off him into the net, possibly off his arm.

Inzaghi, often known as Super Pippo for his goal-poaching even at the age of 33, became Super Euro Pippo in Gazzetta as the paper made him their star man with nine points.

Milan's team received an average of 7.5 while Liverpool managed only five and not one of their players got more than 6.5.

UNERRING PRAISE

The clean-up in Milan's main square, Piazza del Duomo, was beginning on Thursday after an all-night party which included mini-bonfires and fireworks.

Car horns honked loudly and youngsters on mopeds sped round the city with flags draped over their shoulders in scenes reminiscent of when Italy lifted the World Cup last July.

The Corriere dello Sport was unerring in its praise for Milan.

"Eleven months after the World Cup, Italian football has taken the Champions League again thanks to an extraordinary Milan through strength, character, quality, intelligence, personality," read Alessandro Vocalelli's lead story.

Italian soccer has been shaken by last season's match-fixing scandal, which led to Juventus being demoted to the second division and Milan nearly missing out on this season's Champions League because of points deductions.

The death of a policeman during riots outside a match in Catania in February further dented the country's love of football but Milan's achievement, coupled with Italy's reign as world champions, has provided a perfect tonic.

A quote from club president Silvio Berlusconi was prominent on Gazzetta's front page and summed up the mood:

"We have won for us and for Italy. Pippo had promised me the goals. We are the strongest team out of everyone in the last 20 years. And now I am ready to present the fans with a big acquisition," he said.

Talk of Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon joining the club has largely been dismissed but Milan would snap up Barcelona's Ronaldinho if he became available and are keen to take Andriy Shevchenko back from Chelsea.