TIME MACHINE: AC MILAN v BARCELONA

An unprecedented match at every level in an unusual location. We return to the Champions League in January and face a team with whom we have no previous experience: Girona, the great surprise of last year's La Liga and still in the running for a difficult qualification to the knockout phase. It will not, however, be the first Catalan opponent in our history. Naturally, our thoughts turn to Barcelona, and as we get closer to the kick-off on Matchday 7, we have decided to revisit a precedent from over 20 years ago in our Time Machine, back in the 2004/05 season.

On 20 October 2004, the Rossoneri were energised by an excellent start in Europe - a clear run in the first two matches, with victories over Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic Glasgow - and positive momentum, as Ancelotti's team came from consecutive league victories against Lazio, Reggina and Cagliari. Andriy Shevchenko has been signed, and he inaugurated his season with a hat-trick in the Supercoppa, coming to kick-off against the Blaugrana with six goals scored between Italy and Europe. It was a great match (even Barcelona were on full points) and the best formation for the Rossoneri: Dida in the goalposts, Cafu-Nesta-Stam-Maldini in defence; Gattuso, Pirlo and Seedorf in the midfield with Kaká supporting the attacking pair formed by Inzaghi and the Ukrainian striker. AC Milan were lively and aggressive at the start, with chances for Seedorf and Shevchenko in the opening quarter of an hour, but the visitors made themselves dangerous with a cross from Larsson in the 19th minute.

The game changed once the half-hour mark had passed, after Valdés's save on Pirlo. Cafú made a cross, Sheva headed it over Belletti and gave AC Milan the lead. The match remained lively, but the Rossoneri No.7's goal would remain the only one after 90 minutes at San Siro. After a few scares from the visitors' set-pieces, the opportunities flowed for us in the second half. While Shevchenko repeatedly came close to scoring a brace, Dida rose to the occasion to foil attemtps from Ronaldinho and a young Xavi. It was another future Blaugrana champion, Andrés Iniesta, who had the last thrill in the 90th minute, hitting the crossbar with his right-footer. The Englishman Poll's triple whistle sealed a 1-0 win for AC Milan, who beat Barcelona at San Siro for the first time in their history in Europe's top competition (repeating their 1989 Supercoppa success).

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