TIME MACHINE: RONALDINHO IN AC MILAN v JUVENTUS

The past has said it, the present reaffirms it: every time AC Milan face Juventus, it makes history as will the match on Sunday 22 October at 20:45 CEST. Opponents, rivals: a unique match, always with something at stake. In May 2010, this meeting concluded the 2010/11 Serie A. 38th match, the final page of a campaign in which the Diavolo had already secured Champions League qualification. It was a special evening: great attention was paid to Leonardo, Dida and Favalli's farewells, but it was Ronaldinho who took most of the limelight.

The Brazilian champion arrived with great pomp and circumstance in the summer of 2008 after his extraordinary spell at Barcelona. A massive career, which began in his homeland at Gremio, before joining Paris Saint-Germain, and then Barça, where he won individual and team awards for fun, highlights including the 2006 Champions League and the Ballon d'Or. It didn't take him long to make a difference in Italy, either: from the assist in his debut to his first goal in the Derby victory. 10 goals in his debut season, 15 (and 19 assists) in the following year, four of which came against the Bianconeri. A brace in January in the 3-0 win in Turin and a brace in the match in question, the 3-0 win at San Siro. Same verdict, star player. 

On 15 May 2010, the plate was not quite so rich, the motivation for the game was simply to enjoy a happy ending to an intense year for AC Milan and a complicated one for Juventus. Dinho was indispensable in the 4-2-Fantasia with the Brazilians (Dida, Thiago Silva, Pato and Ronaldinho on the pitch, Leonardo on the bench) - without forgetting the figure and contribution of Borriello. Ronaldinho was simply a 'spectator' for Antonini's first, set up by Seedorf. Then he became the star. In the first half, he doubled the lead, winning the ball back, a quick exchange with Pato and slotting it past Buffon. In the second half, he made it 3, collecting Zebina's short clearance and placing it into the far corner with surgical precision. Off went the shirt and away went the party.

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