An unprecedented match at each degree in an uncommon location. We return to the Champions League in and face a staff with whom we’ve no earlier expertise: Girona, the good shock of final 12 months’s La Liga and nonetheless within the operating for a tough qualification to the . It is not going to, nevertheless, be the primary Catalan opponent in our historical past. Naturally, our ideas flip to Barcelona, and as we get nearer to the kick-off on Matchday 7, we’ve determined to revisit a precedent from over 20 years in the past in our Time Machine, again within the 2004/05 season.
On 20 October 2004, have been energised by a superb begin in Europe – a transparent run within the first two matches, with victories over Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic Glasgow – and constructive momentum, as Ancelotti’s staff got here from consecutive league victories in opposition to Lazio, Reggina and Cagliari. Andriy Shevchenko has been signed, and he inaugurated his season with a hat-trick within the Supercoppa, coming to kick-off in opposition to the Blaugrana with six targets scored between Italy and Europe. It was a fantastic match (even Barcelona have been on full factors) and the finest formation for the Rossoneri: Dida within the goalposts, Cafu-Nesta-Stam-Maldini in defence; Gattuso, Pirlo and Seedorf within the midfield with Kaká supporting the attacking pair shaped by Inzaghi and . AC Milan have been full of life and aggressive at the beginning, with probabilities for Seedorf and Shevchenko within the opening quarter of an hour, however the guests made themselves harmful with a cross from Larsson within the nineteenth minute.
The sport modified as soon as the half-hour mark had handed, after Valdés’s save on Pirlo. Cafú made a cross, Sheva headed it over Belletti and gave AC Milan the lead. The match remained full of life, however the Rossoneri No.7’s aim would stay the one one after 90 minutes at San Siro. After a number of scares from the guests’ set-pieces, the alternatives flowed for us within the second half. Whereas Shevchenko repeatedly got here near scoring a brace, Dida rose to the event to foil attemtps from Ronaldinho and a younger Xavi. It was one other future Blaugrana champion, Andrés Iniesta, who had the final thrill within the ninetieth minute, hitting the crossbar together with his right-footer. The Englishman Ballot’s triple whistle sealed a 1-0 win for AC Milan, who beat Barcelona at San Siro for the primary time of their historical past in Europe’s high competitors (repeating their ).
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