TIME MACHINE: AC MILAN v INTER

Important for sure, decisive, it depends. In any case, the upcoming derby is one of those that can shift momentum and set the direction of the season. Just as it did in the 2003/04 season, once again AC Milan v Inter and once again in the second half of the campaign. We relive it together thanks to our Time Machine. It was February 21, Matchday 22 of the Serie A season: light rain and a slippery pitch at San Siro, with the Rossoneri top of the table and the Nerazzurri trailing behind.

After the wonderful European triumph in the 2002/03 season, Carlo Ancelotti's team had one clear mission: to win the Scudetto. In the league, it was an all-out battle with Roma, with AC Milan five points behind. The previous weekend had brought a bittersweet draw in Lecce, and the derby was needed to send a message, to themselves first, even before their rivals. But the evening seemed off, almost cursed. And it couldn't have started any worse. AC Milan were in control, creating chances, Toldo pulled off a miracle save to deny Kaká, then in the 15th minute Inter scored: Stanković, directly from a corner kick, caught Dida off guard. Good chances followed for Shevchenko and Kaká; Seedorf and Gattuso tested Toldo, Adriano even hit the post, then in the 40th minute Inter doubled their lead: Cristiano Zanetti, his right-footed shot deflected off Kaladze, wrong-footing Dida.

Trailing 0-2 at half-time, the Diavolo turned the game around in the second half but only after a huge scare, when Adriano blasted the potential knockout blow high from close range. A mistake that became the spark for the comeback. The man of the moment was Tomasson, brought off the bench: in the 56th minute, the Dutchman pounced on Toldo's short rebound from Seedorf's shot to pull one back. There was barely time to restart play - incredibly, just seconds later - Kaká made it 2–2 in the 57th minute, surging forward and slotting a low outside-of-the-foot shot into the corner. San Siro erupted. A frantic battle followed in search of the winner, and the rest was history. In the 85th minute, former Inter player Seedorf punished the cousins coached by another former Inter man, Zaccheroni, with a devastating long-range strike - a goal of rare beauty and precision. The sensational comeback was complete: AC Milan 3–2 Inter, and the Scudetto moved one step closer.

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