Juventus will play AC Milan in the Champions League final following a superb all-round display to overwhelm holders Real Madrid in Turin tonight.
Goals from David Trezeguet, Alessandro del Piero and Czech star Pavel Nedved saw off Real, who scored through a late Zinedine Zidane effort.
However, had Luis Figo scored with a penalty midway through the second-half it would have been the Spanish giants who progressed to the final at Old Trafford on May 28th.
The one downside for Juventus, though, was the booking of Nedved who now misses the final.
Real were the first to threaten when a trademark Roberto Carlos free-kick from 30 yards bent around the wall and swerved a yard wide of Gianluigi Buffon's left-hand post.
Juventus went straight down the other end and went equally close as Del Piero's right-foot curler sailed narrowly over Iker Casillas' crossbar.
Three minutes later Trezeguet scored to send the home fans delirious. Nedved broke free on the right wing and delivered an inviting high ball into the box aimed for del Piero.
The 28-year-old Italy international outjumped his marker at the back post to nod the ball down for Trezeguet, who took advantage of Casillas' hesitation to poke the ball home from six yards.
A touch of magic from Del Piero doubled Juventus' advantage two minutes before half-time. Closely marked by Fernando Hierro and Michel Salgado, Del Piero worked the ball onto his right foot and rather than look for the curler into the far corner, he drove a low shot which beat Casillas at near post.
Ronaldo was introduced early in the second half and won a penalty for the visitors in the 65th minute when Montero brought him crashing down in the box. But Figo's spot-kick was poorly struck and Buffon palmed the ball away with ease to rescue the Italians.
Real were to rue that miss as Juventus increased their lead 17 minutes from time. Gianluca Zambrotta's 40-yard pass reached Nedved, who ran in between two defenders to rifle the ball beyond Casillas.
Zidane's left-footed drive flickered Real into life, but the Italians held on to reach their seventh final.
AFP