AC MILAN v JUVENTUS: A PREVIOUS MEETING

A historic matchup in Italian football AC Milan and Juventus have met on numerous occasions. Over the decades, these two sides have frequently battled it out for trophies both nationally and internationally, like, for example, when they faced each other in the only all-Italian Champions League final to have been played. Past encounters between the Rossoneri and the Bianconeri have seen various protagonists take centre stage, players who have made this showdown so iconic that it’s able to attract hundreds of millions of viewers throughout the world. One of these matches took place on 24 March 2000, the first game between the sides in the new millennium.

SETTING THE SCENE
Matchday 27, the Rossoneri’s final fixture in March. Topping the music charts was Destiny’s Child’s Say My Name, while Toy Story 2 was proving to be particularly popular in Italian cinemas. The two teams that won the final two Scudetto titles of the second millennium (Juve in 1998 and AC Milan in 1999, the year of the Rossoneri’s Centenary celebrations) took to the San Siro pitch in contrasting runs of form. The Diavolo had picked up two points from four matches, with a 1-0 defeat to Venezia in their previous fixture having all but put an end to any hopes of retaining their league title. Meanwhile, things were going much better for the table-topping Bianconeri, who, following six consecutive wins, sat 13 points ahead of AC Milan. Despite the difficulties, one player was really shining for the Rossoneri: a young Ukrainian striker called Andriy Shevchenko, who had arrived in the summer transfer window from a Dinamo Kyiv side that had reached the semi-finals of the Champions League the previous campaign. The same player would steal the show on that Friday in Milan.

STARTING AT A HIGH TEMPO
Zaccheroni made a few changes to the side that had lost at the Penzo, with Danish defender Helveg being selected in the backline and the Spaniard José Mari, who had joined AC Milan from Atlético Madrid during the January transfer window, chosen alongside Shevchenko up front. The Diavolo began at a high tempo as De Ascentis – another new face in the starting line-up compared to the previous game – had a powerful effort from distance. Juventus looked to respond through Inzaghi: first, the Italian striker got on the end of Zidane’s free kick but failed to direct the ball on target; then, with Abbiati beaten, he was unable to capitalise on Maldini’s misjudged back pass. Having survived a huge scare, the Rossoneri pushed up the pitch and came close through José Mari, whose left-footed strike went just wide. Just as it looked like an intense first half was about to finish goalless, the moment that changed the direction of the match occurred.  

SHEVA OPENS AND CLOSES THE SCORING
Indeed, in the 45th minute, Costacurta sent the ball out to Helveg on the right, and the latter then played in a ball for Shevchenko, who got to it ahead of van der Sar and headed the Diavolo into a deserved lead. It was the Ukrainian’s first-ever goal against Juventus and the 20th time he’d found the net in Serie A that season. Boosted by the goal, AC Milan continued where they’d left off at the start of the second half as José Mari produced a dangerous header and Guglielminpietro hit the bar with a cross that turned into a shot. Juve weren’t quite at it, even if Costacurta had to make two crucial interventions to deny Davids and then Inzaghi. With 84 minutes on the clock, Shevchenko and José Mari combined brilliantly to set up a chance for the Ukrainian, who, however, was brought down by Birindelli before he could shoot. Referee Paparesta didn’t have any doubts, pointing straight to the penalty spot. Sheva then kept his cool from twelve yards out, sending van der Sar the wrong way and sealing a 2-0 win for AC Milan, who, after a solid end to the season, went on to finish third and qualify for the Champions League. 1160 days later, the same player would show an equally cool head against the same opponents at Old Trafford.

Match KITs, clothing, accessories, gift ideas and much more: visit AC Milan online Store!