AC MILAN AND THE ROUND OF 16 SECOND LEGS: TIME MACHINE

Club Brugge v AC Milan, do you remember it? Many will remember Kaká. It was November 2003, and on matchday four in the group stages, Ricky scored a vital goal at the death to seal victory and edge the Rossoneri closer to going through to the latter stages. With only a few days to go before the Champions League last-16 second leg tie away to Tottenham in London, we want to go back and remember another game between Club Brugge and AC Milan, another 1-0 away win but this time in the second round of the knockout stages.

THE SETTING
Also in this case, the game was played in November 1990 to be exact. Being the reigning champions, Arigo Sacchi's team had a bye in the first round, entering the competition in Round 2 against the Belgians (who had qualified by beating Lillestrøm). The first leg at San Siro ended 0-0, despite the Rossoneri dominating the game and regretfully wasting the many chances created. It was all to play for at the Jan Breydelstadion, where the Diavolo arrived ready and in good shape, fighting for the league title.

VAN BASTEN'S FEET
AC Milan went lined up in a 4-4-2: Pazzagli; Tassotti, Costacurta, Baresi, Maldini; Carbone, Ancelotti, Rijkaard, Evani; Gullit, van Basten. They started well, with van Basten unmarkable; he was everywhere, picking up balls, playing forward passes, but also dropping deeper, winning fouls, getting involved. He drove the team forward with his movement and great pieces of play, often outside the 18-yard box. He had a couple of efforts that were comfortably kept out by goalkeeper Verlinden, but it was as provider where he showed his class: from the pass to Gullit, whose shot just missed the target from a few yards out, to the cross for Rijkaard, which the opposition defender got to first. The first half flew by, but the game was still goalless after three halves of hard-fought football. 

CARBONE... BURNING BRIGHT
But it did arrive, and it was to be decisive. Shortly after the break, Van Basten was again involved in the play, receiving a pass from Gullit before laying it off to Angelo Carbone, who on the edge of the area hit a majestic right-foot shot. The 22-year-old from Bari's hit, two minutes into the second half, sailed into the top corner, giving Verlinden no chance. It was a deserved and precious advantage, that was eventually defended until the final whistle, and passage through to the next round sealed. But not without a hint of disappointment after referee Syme gave Van Basten a straight red card, seven minutes before time, for an elbow on Plovie; it was an act of frustration by the Dutchman after some rash challenges on him by the Gialloneri previously. AC Milan's European Cup journey eventually ended at the quarter-final stage, in a season that saw the Intercontinental Cup and European Super Cup won.

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