TIME MACHINE: PISA v AC MILAN

An away day that's back on the agenda after 35 years. After the 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture at San Siro, the Rossoneri renew their acquaintance with Pisa. The last time AC Milan played a Serie A match in the Tuscan city was on 14 April 1991. With the match just days away, we build up to kick-off by looking back, as usual, at a historic meeting between the two sides. We go back to the 1988/89 season and revisit a Pisa v AC Milan clash that ended 2-0 to the Rossoneri thanks to a Van Basten brace. It was also a special match for the man now in charge of AC Milan, Massimiliano Allegri, who was a Pisa player at the time and came on as a substitute in the 88th minute. Starting for Pisa that day was Aldo Dolcetti, now a member of the Coach's staff.

It was matchday 32, the third-to-last game of the season, and just days earlier AC Milan had lifted the European Cup in Barcelona after a resounding 4–0 win over Steaua București. Sacchi's Rossoneri already knew they wouldn't be able to defend their 1987/88 league title, but they still took to the pitch at the Arena Garibaldi in Pisa with the right attitude, fielding a line-up that was experimental in a few areas. 

Lining up next to match-winner Van Basten was Mannari, while Lantignotti was selected in midfield alongside Ancelotti. After the break, Bianchi and Mussi were introduced for AC Milan, while a certain Massimiliano Allegri came on for the home side.

MVB scored a goal in each half. On the half-hour mark, he fired home with his right foot from an Evani assist. Then, five minutes into the second half, he set himself and smashed a free-kick into the top corner. A brace packed with quality - pure Van Basten - and part of a superb late-season run that brought him seven goals in the final three league games: two against Pisa, a hat-trick away to Ascoli on matchday 33, and another double against Bologna on the final day. On 14 June, just three days after the victory in Pisa, we also won the first-ever edition of the Supercoppa Italiana, beating Sampdoria 3-1.

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