#TBT: LECCE V AC MILAN, FOUR DAYS BEFORE GREATNESS

Lecce 1-1 AC Milan, 15 April 1989. Written this way, it seems to be like any other game, one of those draws that makes everyone unhappy. However, that 1-1 over 30 years ago at the Stadio Via del Mare has its own historic importance. One could say it was the calm before the storm.

15 April, four days before the perfect storm, four days before AC Milan 5-0 Real Madrid. A Saturday afternoon game in Lecce that paved the way for history. Much like how the Rossoneri’s loss against Espanyol, in that same stadium in Lecce the season before, had paved the way for their title-challenge turning point four days later against Verona with Virdis’ winning header. 

That day, 15 April 1989, was one of the many times that season in which the Rossoneri played with just their legs in Italy, whereas in Europe they played with their heads and hearts. The only absentee that day was Paolo Maldini, the other Rossoneri starters were all present in Lecce. Although, Evani then picked up an injury in the following days at Milanello on the eve of the game against Real Madrid.

The ex-Rossoneri players Terraneo and Paciocco played for Carletto Mazzone’s Lecce team that day. The goals that day came from Benedetti’s opener for Lecce before Virdis’ equaliser for AC Milan, both of which came in the first half. The following season, Piatro Paolo became a Lecce player after becoming a European champion with AC Milan.

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