TIME MACHINE: SAVIĆEVIĆ IN AC MILAN v PSG

AC Milan v PSG: it's a massive game for Coach Pioli's men as they look to significantly boost their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League round of 16. In April 1995, meanwhile, there was an even bigger prize at stake in the showdown between the sides at San Siro: a place in the final. And it was Dejan Savićević who shined brighter than everyone else on a magical night for the AC Milan faithful. Ahead of the next clash between the Rossoneri and Les Parisiens, our Time Machine takes us back to that match from the Montenegrin striker's perspective.

A player with infinite class, wonderful dribbling ability and the character required for the biggest matches. Nicknamed "Il Genio" ("The Genius") due to his enormous talent, Dejan Savićević joined AC Milan from Red Star Belgrade in the summer of 1992. He made a name for himself in Europe at the Serbian side, winning the 1990/91 European Cup and Intercontinental Cup. He also got his hands on three domestic league titles. Before his move to Italy, he'd already faced the Rossoneri a few years earlier. Indeed, with a place in the European Cup quarter-finals at stake, he scored against AC Milan in Belgrade in 1988, only for the match to be postponed with Red Star Belgrade a goal up. Sacchi's men then emerged victorious from that two-legged tie, which, for Dejan, provided a first taste of the Rossoneri world.

Savićević's greatest moment of all in the AC Milan shirt came against Barcelona in the 1994 Champions League final in Athens, during which he provided an assist for Massaro and scored an unforgettable third in the Diavolo's 4-0 victory. He also took centre stage in Europe's elite competition the following season. AC Milan, the reigning European Champions, eliminated Benfica in the quarters to set up a semi-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain. After dealing a big blow with a stoppage-time winner from Boban in the first leg in France, Capello's side found themselves in a good position to qualify for the final for a second consecutive year. At San Siro, Dejan Savićević stole the show. In the 20th minute, he glided past Ricardo Gomes and showed brilliant composure to beat Lama and open the scoring. Then, after the restart, he doubled AC Milan's advantage with a precise left-footed strike from a Desailly assist (67'). The 2-0 win sent the Rossoneri through, although the Montenegrin then missed out on the final.

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