TIME MACHINE: VIRDIS IN AC MILAN v AUXERRE
History
Once again in the Europa League, 34 months later. Once again a French opponent in this competition, the last time was in November 2020. In the group stage it was Lille, this time it's Rennes, for the first time in our history, in the Playoffs. Auxerre also crossed paths with AC Milan, in the game on 2 October 1985 in the UEFA Cup, one to remember. An evening in which Pietro Paolo Virdis lifted the fog at San Siro.
Born in Sindia, the Sardinian forward had been with the Rossoneri for a year, his hunger and experience already with him: playing at Nuorese, Cagliari, Juventus and Udinese, he had got his first wins under his belt and demonstrated his powerful eye for a goal. Then, AC Milan. AC Milan, in its last days of the Farina era, was coached by Liedholm and only just back in Europe. In his first season, he bagged 13 goals and 6 assists, and his second was even better: right from the start with the 1-0 over Bari in Serie A and scoring against Auxerre in the UEFA Cup. Ready, set, go and Pietro Paolo's left foot seemed to decide the first leg of the first round at the Stade Abbé Deschamps, but instead the hosts came back from behind to make it 3-1, complicating the road to qualification.
If a big job was needed, we were missing little to get it done. Terraneo started in goal, Tassotti-Baresi-Maldini-Galdini in defence, Icardi-Di Bartolomei-Wilkins-Evani in the midfield, and Hateley-Virdis up front. From goalscorer in France to trailblazer at home, Virdis opened the scoring with a towering header at the half-hour mark (assist by Wilkins). Ahead, but it wasn't done yet. They would need to double the lead to turn the tide on qualification. And there he is, Virdis facilitates the move that sees Hateley score a header (assist by Evani). The Diavolo dominated. Right up until the 3-0. Guess who? Exactly, Virdis once again, bagging a brace with a move in the air following a corner (assist by Evani). These are the makings of a champion who would become a Rossoneri icon over time.
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