TIME MACHINE: BIERHOFF IN SALERNITANA v AC MILAN

It was our first away fixture in 2023, and it will also be our last. Salernitana v AC Milan does not have a lot of history behind it, decidedly lacking in material if we talk about past encounters. The side from Campania, coached by our great former striker Filippo Inzaghi, are in their third consecutive year in the top flight and beyond a fleeting appearance immediately after the war there is certainly one previous match that floods straight back into the memories of all Rossoneri fans: the first away match of an unexpected and unforgettable run, the one towards the Centenary Scudetto. Breaking the deadlock, that afternoon at the Arechi, was one of the star players of that season: Oliver Bierhoff.

The German striker had just joined the Club, following his transfer from Udinese, where he had netted 57 goals in three Serie A seasons and ended up the league's leading scorer in the 1997/98 season, in the summer of 1998. Also making the journey from Udine to Milan a few weeks earlier were Danish full-back Thomas Helveg and Head Coach Alberto Zaccheroni, who from the start set up AC Milan in his usual 3-4-3 formation with a front trio of Weah, Leonardo and Bierhoff. It was a recipe that had worked very well on the opening day of the season against Bologna at San Siro: a 3-0 win through a Bierhoff brace and one from Leonardo. At the Arechi, however, Zaccheroni opted for the Argentine Guglielminpietro on the right (Weah on the left, Bierhoff central) against Delio Rossi's attacking Salernitana, who lined up with a 4-3-3 formation and very eager to do well in their first home match in Serie A in 50 years.

The match remained in the balance for a long time; Salernitana were a different outfit to the one Roma beat on matchday 1 at the Olimpico. The Granata came close to taking the lead in the first half, hitting the crossbar through a young Di Vaio as well as Chianese missing a big chance. Balli, the home side's keeper, came out on top against Weah, and Guglielminpietro hit the angle of the crossbar: with several chances for both teams it became clear that one incident would be enough to break the deadlock. And that moment eventually arrived halfway through the second half, in the 68th minute. Albertini's free-kick found Bierhoff, whose turn and shot proved unstoppable for Balli. Just as in the previous game against Bologna, it was Oliver who found the crucial opener. He would go on to end his first year for the Rossoneri with 19 league goals. Zaccheroni's side doubled their lead in the 86th minute after Leonardo deflected home Weah's volley from distance. Salernitana reduced the deficit after a splendid free kick from Breda, but at the final whistle the three points belonged to AC Milan. It was an important victory that revealed itself to be crucial over the course of the season, but most of all, at its splendid finale.

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