#TBT: SACCHI, A FLASH OF INSPIRATION

Silvio Berlusconi had just showered Nils Liedholm's AC Milan side with the first spending spree since he took over at the Club: and in quick succession, Donadoni, Massari, Giovanni Galli, Bonetti and Galderisi all joined the Rossoneri. After four victories in summer friendlies in Emilia and on the Adriatic Coast and after three consecutive wins in the Coppa Italia, AC Milan returned to San Siro to face Arrigo Sacchi's Parma.  

It was 3 September 1986, 34 years ago today. Our Club President Berlusconi took an interest in Sacchi in that tie in the first phase of the Coppa Italia, which Parma won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Fontolan. And after flash of inspiration, a surprise victory for the Crociati. AC Milan went on to face Parma our times that year: the Rossoneri won once in a friendly, while the Gialloblù came out on top on two occasions, with a draw in the Coppa Italia completing the picture.

Arrigo Sacchi didn't let up after dealing his first blow on the 3 September, and his Parma side continued to show their quality and organisation in February 1987, when AC Milan hosted Parma in the Round of 16. And once more, the Crociati came out with a 1-0 victory. All that changed was the goalscorer,  with Mario Bortolazzi the scorer this time around, rather than Davide Fontolan. 

In any case, there were more than 35,000 spectators at San Siro present for the first of the three competitive matches between the two sides, and after Parma's victory, sealed by a goal from Fontolan in the first half, who did well to avoid the Rossoneri offside trap, a group of AC Milan fans even booed and insulted "Barone Liddas".

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