TIME MACHINE: AC MILAN vs. ATALANTA

In recent years, AC Milan vs. Atalanta has developed into one of Serie A's most high-profile fixtures, with both clubs regularly competing near the top of the table. That rivalry has taken on greater significance largely because of Atalanta's rise over the past decade, but clashes with the Bergamo side have also marked important moments throughout Rossoneri history. In today's Time Machine, ahead of Serie A Matchday 7, we revisit one of those memorable encounters.

The match in question was played on March 1st, 1992, at a crucial stage of AC Milan's push toward what would become their 12th Scudetto. It was a historic title not only for the Rossoneri, but for Italian football as a whole: Capello's side went unbeaten throughout the campaign, recording 22 wins and 12 draws. No team had ever won Serie A without defeat since the introduction of the single-round format. At the heart of that remarkable AC Milan side was Marco van Basten - and the Dutchman would take center stage against Atalanta.

Across the first 22 league matches, the Rossoneri had gone behind five times and responded on every occasion to earn a positive result. In four of those games - against Fiorentina, Genoa, Lazio and Cagliari - Marco van Basten had scored the 1-1 goal, whether as an equalizer or the final word. He arrived at the March 1 meeting with Atalanta having gone three games without scoring, but there was no question about his form. His two previous scoring outings had both brought hat tricks - against Cagliari and in a 3-1 win over Foggia in January - taking his Serie A tally to 17 goals.

When Brazilian striker Careca Bianchese put Atalanta ahead after just 8', there was no sense of panic at San Siro, despite three consecutive draws having slowed Capello's side and cut their lead over Juventus to four points. What followed was a six-minute masterclass. Between 34' and 40', van Basten scored from the spot, with his right foot and with his left to complete a perfect hat trick, turn the match on its head before halftime and push the Rossoneri another step closer to history. Simply… Marco van Basten.

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