AC MILAN AND THE QUARTER‑FINAL RETURN LEG: TIME MACHINE

April and the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The first leg in front of a sold-out San Siro. The return fixture away from home at a very difficult place to play. While Napoli awaits AC Milan in 2023, Bayern Munich were the obstacle that the Rossoneri needed to overcome in the last eight in 2007. Having already faced them in 2005/06 (round of 16) and 2002/03 (group stage), Ancelotti's team knew the German side well. But the night of 11 April 2007 stands out in a special way for the Rossoneri fans, who would later watch their team triumph for the seventh time in Europe's elite competition. Through our Time Machine, we're going to relive that showdown on Bavarian soil.

SETTING THE SCENE
After their two-legged last-16 tie the previous season, which AC Milan progressed through thanks to a 4-1 victory in the return fixture at San Siro, Hitzfeld and Ancelotti's teams were drawn to face each other again, this time in the quarter-finals. The two sides' journeys in the competition had been very similar: both had finished top of their respective groups and narrowly made it through the round of 16. Bayern had already come up against an Italian team - Inter - in Group B, which they topped thanks to a twelve-point haul (three wins and three draws). They then faced Capello's Real Madrid, who they just about managed to eliminate on away goals after a 3-2 defeat in Spain and a 2-1 victory at home. AC Milan, meanwhile, had got the better of Celtic thanks to Kaká's famous coast-to-coast goal after two goalless draws across 180 minutes. And it also finished all square in the quarter-final first leg at San Siro: the Rossoneri took the lead twice through Pirlo and then Kaká, but Bayern were able to strike back twice through an unexpected brace from Van Buyten, who perhaps took inspiration from the two goals scored by fellow defender Lúcio across two legs in the previous round.

CLARENCE AND SUPERPIPPO STRIKE         
Makaay and Podolski were selected up front in Bayern's 4-4-2, while the Rossoneri took to the pitch with Kaká and Seedorf behind Inzaghi in a 4-3-2-1 formation. The hosts made a bright start: Oddo cleared off the line to deny Lell (8'), while Dida then kept out Podolski's low strike (12'). AC Milan began to grow into the game, with Jankulovski and Oddo driving the team on down the flanks. In and around the half-hour mark, the Diavolo struck a double blow. In the 27th minute, Kaká found Seedorf, who controlled the ball with his right foot and fired across Kahn and into the net to make it 1-0. The Dutchman, who had been given the licence to make things happen, was then involved in AC Milan's second goal four minutes later as he back-heeled to Inzaghi, who, having beaten the offside trap, made no mistake with his finish. The Rossoneri were two to the good at a stunned Allianz Arena thanks to some great work in both halves of the pitch.

DIDA IN TOP FORM AS THE ROSSONERI HOLD FIRM: A SEMI-FINAL SPOT SECURED
AC Milan's two-goal lead forced Bayern to play higher up the pitch, with Santa Cruz coming on for Ottl at half-time. Chances did come the home side's way, but the Rossoneri defence stood firm. When there wasn't a crucial intervention by an AC Milan player - Gattuso and Nesta's tackles on Salihamidžić were particularly noteworthy - there was Dida to perform heroics between the sticks. The Brazilian goalkeeper thwarted van Bommel, Salihamidžić and Pizarro, who was on as a substitute, while Inzaghi had a good chance to extend AC Milan's advantage at the other end. However, the scoreline remained the same and the Rossoneri were the ones celebrating after Mejuto González had blown the full-time whistle. AC Milan had reached their third consecutive Champions League semi-final, and their next opponents would be Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United.

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