#TBT: TO EMULATE PIETRO PAOLO VIRDIS
History
Since July 1985, AC Milan have not eliminated Juventus in a two-legged tie in the Coppa Italia. In that summer, the two quarter-final legs, the semi-finals and the two finals took place between 12 June and 3 July. In the first leg of the quarter-final, the Rossoneri drew 0-0 against the Bianconeri. Then in the second leg at the Comunale, after Verona had won the league, AC Milan managed to clinch a 1-0 win thanks to Virdis’ goal against a Juventus team that included Tacconi, Cabrini, Scirea and others coached by Giovanni Trapattoni. Also in the Coppa Italia, AC Milan had previously beaten Juventus in the final in July 1973 on penalties.
So, historically, it seemed that it was a good omen for AC Milan to be drawn against Juventus in the Coppa Italia. However, since Virdis’ goal, things haven’t quite been the same. When it has come to knockout tournaments, AC Milan have beaten Juventus in the Champions League and the Italian Super Cup, but not in the Coppa Italia. The three lost finals, in 1990, 2016 and 2018 are not the only occasions of defeat. There have also been several Bianconeri wins in the quarter-final and especially the semi-final. However, the Rossoneri have always played the decisive match at Juventus’ stadium and not San Siro. The best results were the semi-final that went to extra time in March 2012, and the quarter final in which the same occurred in January 2013.
The official PUMA match kits for the 2019/20 season are available in the AC Milan Online Store!
