CREMONESE v AC MILAN: TIME MACHINE

After almost sixteen years the Rossoneri return to Cremona, this Tuesday on matchday 14 of Serie A. The Cremonese v AC Milan matchup has both a limited and dated history, so we've had to delve into the archives to find this classic from 26 September 1993, a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Papin and Simone.

SETTING THE SCENE
We are still in the early stages of the 1993/94 season, the team coached by Capello have been Champions of Italy for the last two seasons but are still hungry for more, winning 4 out of their first 5 - with a clean sheet in each game - which takes the Diavoli to the Stadio Zini as outright leaders. The newly-promoted Grigiorossi, coached by Simoni, are currently sat in mid-table.

ALL IN THE FIRST HALF
Rossi in goal, Costacurta and Baresi (captain) as the central pair, Tassotti and Orlando fullbacks, Albertini and Boban pulling the strings, Eranio and Donaodoni on the wings, with Simone and Papin as the strikeforce of this 4-4-2 set-up. The match was very 'by-the-book': solid and aggressive. In the 8th minute Papin, who had already fired one over the crossbar, opened the scoring with a beautiful right-footed effort from the edge of the box which gave Turci no chance. AC Milan didn't stop there, despite losing Eranio through injury after 15 minutes (replaced by Massaro), and managed to double their lead after 21 minutes: after a free-kick and some scrappy defending, the ball fell to Simone who produced a clinical strike from the centre of the box. Cremonese produced little in response, with Giandebiaggi the most dangerous but failing to convert.

A COMPREHENSIVE VICTORY
'Half-chances and no goals' sums up the second half rather well. The host created the biggest chance of the half when Tentoni's crosss found Pedroni who missed the target from close range. At the other end, Boban was the most dangerous, testing the keeper with his feet and his head. The Rossoneri, with a two-goal cushion, played it safe and held out until the final whistle, securing the win. These precious 2 points were less common in the subsequent games (3 draws and a defeat) but by the end of the season, the Diavolo had won Scudetto number 14, a record third Tricolore in a row for the first time in history.

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