TIME MACHINE: SLOVAN BRATISLAVA v AC MILAN

Matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League is on the horizon, with AC Milan away against Slovan Bratislava. In Slovakia, we kick off at 18:45 CET as we continue our European journey against an opponent we've faced before. Back in the 1992/93 season, after eliminating Olimpia Ljubljana in the first round, the Rossoneri faced Slovan Bratislava in the first leg of the second round of the Champions League. In our Time Machine, we recount that match.

The date is 21 October 1992, and AC Milan, under the guidance of Fabio Capello, takes to the pitch at the Štadión Pasienky in front of approximately 35,000 spectators. Following the revamped format introduced in the 1991/92 season, this year marks a pivotal moment for the new Champions League: the first and second rounds are knockout stages, leading to two Italian-style groups that will determine the two finalists (the winners of each group). The Rossoneri's journey, which ultimately leads to the Final, passes through Slovakia. In Capello's 4-4-2 formation, the forwards are Papin and Van Basten, with a midfield consisting of Lentini, Donadoni, Albertini, and Boban. The defence is entirely Italian, featuring Tassotti, Costacurta, Baresi, and Maldini. It is Paolo who rises to the occasion as the hero of the match, scoring the first European goal of his career.

The Rossoneri dominate the pitch, and in the first half, opportunities abound, with Van Basten having the most notable chances. In the 42nd minute, we go down to ten men after Demetrio Albertini receives a second yellow card. However, the winning goal arrives in the 61st minute, stemming from an unexpected run by Tassotti down the left. He delivers a left-footed cross to Van Basten, who heads it on for Maldini's central run, resulting in a winning right-footed sliding shot. The Rossoneri defend this lead until the final whistle, before unleashing their full force in the return leg at San Siro, where they secure an explosive 4-0 victory thanks to goals from Boban, Rijkaard, Simone, and Papin. This journey will take us all the way to the Final in Munich, where we ultimately lose to Marseille.

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