#TBT: PAOLO'S RECORD

It wasn’t just any old Sunday. Pisa Club President Anconetani had come out onto the pitch to perform the preparatory rites before the game at the Arena Garibaldi. Meanwhile, “El Cholo” Diego Simeone was also lining up as Milan’s opponent, at the heart of Pisa’s midfield at the time.

That away clash with Pisa took place towards the end of the season, with the Rossoneri licking their wounds after a damning home defeat to Atalanta which had a great impact on the table, and their successive elimination from the European Cup in Marseille. But AC Milan had a big name back on the pitch in that away game in Pisa... Paolo Maldini. In fact, due to various injuries and suspensions, at that point Paolo had never played in Pisa with Arrigo Sacchi as his coach.

His last game in Pisa had come on 6 March 1986, in AC Milan’s first away win since Silvio Berlusconi took over at the Club: 1-0 at the Arena Garibaldi, with a decisive goal from Mark Hateley on the day. Obviously it was written somewhere in the stars that it would be up to Paolo to secure the same result on 14 April 1991. With 25 minutes left to play, our legendary centre-back fired a shot off his left boot from inside the box to secure the points.

That goal saw Paolo equal his goalscoring record in Serie A, with three so far that season. He would go on to score against Juventus in Turin just three weeks later. That made it four league goals that season, which to date remains Paolo Maldini's highest-ever return for AC Milan in Serie A. Four goals all scored on the road: against both the Granata and the Bianconeri in Turin, then in Cagliari and Pisa too.

The Fondazione Milan has set up a fundraiser to support AREU's efforts: do your part and help us to support those who are fighting the COVID-19 emergency on a daily basis: www.gofundme.com/f/emergenza-coronavirus-ospedali.