#ONTHISDAY: 23 MAY, THE DAY OF THE ROSSONERI

For all Rossoneri fans, 23 May is a special, unique, exciting date. A date for five memorable matches, AC Milan moments full of pure joy all Rossoneri fans. From the 1968 Cup Winners' Cup Final to the most recent match in Bergamo, which secured a return to the Champions League in 2021, we relive five magical moments in our history.

23 MAY 1968: AC MILAN 2-0 HAMBURG
At De Kuip in Rotterdam - on 23 May 1968 - the first Cup Winners' Cup Final in Rossoneri history took place. Paròn Rocco's AC Milan, newly crowned champions of Italy with four games to spare in the current season, approached the game unbeaten in the tournament. After eliminating the fearsome Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, the Rossoneri faced another German team in the clash for the trophy: Uwe Seeler's underdogs Hamburg. It was Swedish striker Kurt Hamrin's brace that set the tone from the outset: a precise finish into the corner to open the scoring in the 3rd minute and a powerful right-footer - following a nutmeg - in the 19th minute. The score would not change again, and the Rossoneri would thus add to their trophy cabinet their first Cup Winners' Cup.

23 MAY 1990: AC MILAN 1-0 BENFICA
On 23rd May 1990, AC Milan, led by Arrigo Sacchi, faced Eriksson's Benfica to give themselves a chance at another European Cup win after their triumph over Steaua Bucharest (4-0) the previous year. On their way to the final, the Rossoneri beat HJK, Real Madrid, KV Mechelen and Bayern Munich, before facing Benfica, already played and defeated in the 1963 Final - the date of the first historic triumph in the 'trophy with big ears'. The fifth European Cup Final in Rossoneri history - the first with AC Milan as holders - was played at Prater Stadion in Vienna. The tension was sky-high and there was little action in the first half. In the middle of the second half, however, came the Rossoneri's breakthrough: van Basten crossed for Rijkaard, who powered it past the goalkeeper - it was to be the winning goal. At the final whistle it was the Rossoneri who celebrated, and captain Baresi  lifted the fourth title in our history to the heavens.

23 MAY 1999: PERUGIA 1-2 AC MILAN
The Rossoneri's extraordinary comeback in the 1998/99 season was completed at Perugia's Curi. It was the centenary year, and Zaccheroni's AC Milan were hoping to celebrate the historic year in the best possible way. The Serie A title race had been hotly contested: Fiorentina were top at Christmas, Lazio overtook them and seemed to be favourites to lift the trophy. But AC Milan did not give up and, down the final stretch, caught up with the Biancocelesti, overtaking them in the table on matchday 33. So it came down to the final game: the Rossoneri started strongly and, by the half-hour mark, were two goals to the good thanks to Guglielminpietro (11') and Bierhoff (31'). Nakata scored a penalty in the 34th minute to make things tense, but Abbiati was not to be beaten. It ended in glory: the 16th Scudetto became a reality!

23 MAY 2007: AC MILAN 2-1 LIVERPOOL
Two years after the defeat in Istanbul, Athens offered AC Milan a chance for revenge. The Rossoneri's European journey in the 2006/07 season began in the summer qualifiers against Red Star Belgrade. They won Group H with Lille, AEK Athens and Anderlecht, before defeating Celtic, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United on their way to the final. The final opponent was the most fearsome: Rafa Benítez's Liverpool. At the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Pippo Inzaghi was the star for AC Milan: a clever touch from Pirlo's free kick at the end of the first half (45') and a second from Kaká's assist in the 82nd minute after dribbling past Reina. Kuyt's goal at the end was simply a consolation, this time Liverpool were defeated! At the end of an unforgettable night, captain Paolo Maldini lifted the seventh Champions League in our history.

23 MAY 2021: ATALANTA 0-2 AC MILAN
We came to the end of the 2020/21 season. The Rossoneri fans had been waiting for years to return to where they belong, to experience European evenings and nights as AC Milan in the Champions League. Coach Pioli's Rossoneri arrived at the last day of Serie A with only one objective: to win and to qualify for the next season's Champions League. The game on the season's final day was a tricky one away to Gasperini's Atalanta, played behind closed doors and with no room for error. The match in Bergamo was decided by a brace - after a penalty at the end of each half - from a composed Franck Kessie: AC Milan were back among Europe's elite, seven years on from the last time, and and a second-placed finish.

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