TIME MACHINE: BALOTELLI IN CELTIC v AC MILAN

Today in England, yesterday in Scotland. 2013 and 2023, the Rossoneri will be back in the United Kingdom after 10 years trying to qualify for the Champions League round of 16. From the incandescent atmosphere of Celtic Park to the equally red-hot atmosphere that awaits AC Milan at St. James's Park in Newcastle. On 26 November 2013, Allegri's team prevailed with a decisive and important 3-0 victory, put to bed by Super Mario Balotelli. Let's relive the emotions of that meeting by travelling back in time with our Time Machine.

The 2013/14 season was Mario Balotelli’s first "complete" season with the Rossoneri after joining from Manchester City at the end of the January window. The impact was immediate: he scored 12 goals in 13 appearances in the second half of the 2012/13 season and contributed to the Rossoneri's qualification for the next Champions League. Having passed the preliminary rounds against PSV Eindhoven, also thanks to the number 45 and his goal in the 3-0 win in the return leg, the draw in Munich puts AC Milan in Group H alongside Barcelona, Ajax and Celtic.

The final minutes are integral to the first two games. First, the goals for the 2-0 home win over the Scottish side (own goal and Muntari) and then for an equaliser deep in injury time in Amsterdam (1-1), scored by Balotelli from the spot. The two games against Barcelona, however, brought only one point to the Rossoneri with the 1-1 draw at San Siro. After the fourth round, the group standings were as follows: Barcelona 10, AC Milan 5, Ajax 4 and Celtic 3. Celtic v AC Milan, on Matchday 5, was therefore quite important for qualification.

With many absences from the AC Milan team at Celtic Park, Allegri entrusts Kaká and Balotelli with the task of supporting their teammates. It was Mario himself who threatened first in the match with a wicked left-footed shot that grazed the post. Then, AC Milan broke the deadlock with a corner from Birsa that Kaká got his head on, left free to pounce from the middle of the box in the 13th minute. The Brazilian playmaker got involved again: he dribbled and passed out wide to Balotelli, who chose to shoot with force and hit the crossbar. A few minutes later, he made a run on his own and threatened Forster with a right-footed shot from outside the box.

Celtic were in the game, but the Rossoneri's deserved second goal came at the start of the second half through Zapata, who was quick to turn a cross from Nocerino into a goal from close range (49'). Super Mario took care of putting the game to bed. With 60 minutes on the clock, Balotelli collected a pass from Montolivo and released a precise right-footed shot into the corner. The game ended 3-0. There was no positive news from Amsterdam, given Ajax's 2-1 win over Barcelona, but the 0-0 draw against the Dutch on the last day at San Siro would be enough to take AC Milan to the round of 16.

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