THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

Tonight's huge Milan & derby semi-final is a sign that football in Italy is alive and kicking after years in the doldrums

- NEIL McLEMAN

AC MILAN will host Inter Milan in the San Siro tonight to showcase the Italian renaissance in European club football and the new generation of stars in Serie A.

When these city rivals last faced each other in the semi-finals in 2003, the Italian league was still arguably the strongest on the continent and Carlo Ancelotti's Milan went on to beat Juventus in Manchester.

Clarence Seedorf, who provided the pass for Andriy Shevchenko's crucial 'away' goal in the 2003 semis, feels the resurgence of the two Milan clubs in Europe is long overdue.