AC Milan 1, Juventus 6 (April 1997)

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AC MILAN's TITLE DEFENSE was in tatters. Not even Arrigo Sacchi, who returned to the club following Oscar Tabarez's ill-fated tenure, could resurrect the team that had won four of the last five championships. Juventus, who were on their way to winning the Scudetto, were younger and brighter than in previous years. Gianluca Vialli, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Paulo Sousa, and Pietro Vierchowod were out, and Zinedine Zidane, Christian Vieri, Alen Boksic, and Paolo Montero were in.

Milan looked better in this game than they had all season. Even the commentators at the time said so. But Marcello Lippi's Juventus still handed the Rossoneri one of their heaviest home defeats of all time. They'd finish the campaign in 11th place.

"We played 90 amazing minutes, scored six goals, and our team was fabulous. No one ever beat Milan 6-1 at home," Vieri said afterward.

The lineups

What the pregame formations looked like.

George Weah is unavailable for the match and Roberto Baggio is on the bench, so summer signing Christophe Dugarry and trusted backup Marco Simone start. Franco Baresi is 36 here and into his final season. Vierchowod faces his old team. A 23-year-old Christian Vieri leads the line for Juventus, with Zidane just behind him.

The match

Reviewing the most important plays, including random thoughts about the teams and players in action. You can watch the game here.

4' Juventus can't get out of their half. Simone and Dejan Savicevic combine well on the right flank. Michael Reiziger loops a nice cross from the right touchline, but Dugarry mistimes his header. Juventus try to clear but can't even reach the halfway line. San Siro is in full voice and chanting like this game can change Milan's season. The southern end of the field is covered in confetti and streamers. The sense of occasion hasn't been lost.

8' The ball is stuck in no man's land. Players from each side are diving into tackles and jostling for possession but unable to keep the ball for more than a couple of seconds at a time. Zvonimir Boban intercepts Zidane's pass down the middle and tries to reset the play. The ball's a hot potato and no one wants it.

12' That's Milan's best move so far. Baresi surveys the pitch before launching a long ball to Dugarry, who holds off Sergio Porrini, dribbles into space, detects Savicevic's run down the right, and plays a lovely pass inside of the defender for the Montenegrin to receive in flight. Ciro Ferrara clears Savicevic's cross for Simone and concedes a corner kick. A goalmouth scramble ensues, but the ball bounces out for a goal kick.

14' Vieri receives the ball with his back to goal a few yards inside Milan's half and turns Paolo Maldini as he rushes into the play. Vieiri has tons of space ahead of him and goes on a slaloming run before angling a tepid shot wide of the near post. The game is picking up pace now.

16' Shortly after Boban clatters into Boksic for the first yellow card of the game, Juventus midfielder Angelo Di Livio drags down Jesper Blomqvist as he races onto Savicevic's wonderful through ball. We've got two bookings in two minutes.

19' Some gorgeous build-up play leads to Juventus' opener. Ferrara's tackle on Blomqvist triggers a counterattack that Di Livio nearly wastes with a ball out wide to Boksic. But the Croatian striker wins a duel with Reiziger and sets into motion a lovely sequence of passes that moves the play from left to right. Finally, it drops to Vieiri's feet, and as he stares at Baresi, he makes his move, creates seperation, and lashes a shot on goal. Vladimir Jugovic buries the rebound, and it's 1-0.

23' Dugarry draws a wonderful reaction save from Angelo Peruzzi. Marcel Desailly wins possession for Milan near the center circle and makes space for himself before heaving a hopeful ball to Dugarry right as he looses his footing. The Frenchman leaps in between two defenders and nearly loops a stunning header into the top right corner from 20 yards away. But Peruzzi dives and tips it over the crossbar. The Rossoneri lead with four shots to one.

26' Milan continue to force turnovers. Boban intercepts and passes to Duggary, who's absolutely everywhere in these opening exchanges. Savicevic joins the rush and beats two defenders to a loose ball, taking a hit just as he plays a pass out wide to Blomqvist. The cross back into the area is delightful, and it drops to Simone in the middle of the action. But Peruzzi collects his admittedly weak volley.

28' Knowing the score, you'd think Juventus would dominate the game from start to finish. Not so. A minute later, Duggary draws a foul 25 yards out, and Boban's free kick flashes over the crossbar.

32' Penalty Juventus! That's come completely against the run of play. Jugovic takes a speculative shot from the mountains that hits Vieri and lands at Boksic's feet like a gift from heaven. Maldini panics and appears to clear him out from behind. The commentator is convinced it's a clear penalty. He says Maldini is lucky not to get sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. But replays show Boskic trips over himself. Milan fans are throwing rubbish onto the field as if they know they've been robbed. Goalkeeper Sebastiano Rossi buys time and clears his area. If he's playing mind games, he's psyched out himself. Zidane winds up like he's about to pummel the ball but hits it meekly and thanks his stars as Rossi pushes the ball into his own net. The goalkeeper gets up and brutalizes the ball in anger. Juventus haven't done much to deserve this 2-0 advantage.

35' Milan have lost their composure. Baresi gives the ball straight to Di Livio inside Milan's own third, and he pops it over the top to Zidane, but the flag goes up as the Frenchman latches onto the pass. Replays show it's close. It could've gone either way. He puts the ball into the net for his own personal satisfaction.

42' Boksic goes off with an injury, and Juventus have lost their momentum. Milan push forward whenever they get the ball. Baresi carries it from Milan's end and draws a cynical foul that deserves a booking. Then there's a chance. Savicevic flips the ball over to Reiziger, who knocks it over to Simone as he fends off a defender. Somehow, he finds a way through traffic and pokes the ball to Savicevic, who then stabs a shot at Peruzzi. The 'keeper appears to trip Savicevic as he tries to locate the rebound. The crowd is incensed. But it's not a penalty. The first half hasn't gone Milan's way at all.

49' The fans are trading chants as Juventus push for a third goal. Milan's ultras chant "Juve, Juve, vaffanculo," and Juventini respond with a chanting praising head coach Marcello Lippi. The visiting supporters aren't even tucked high into the nosebleeds. They're right behind of the goals, making them that much louder.

51' Bam. With a swift swing of his right boot, Jugovic consolidates a 3-0 lead for Juventus. Substitute Nicolo Amoruso attracts three defenders and spreads the ball out wide to Jugovic, who takes on Vierchowod before tucking a shot inside the near post. That's as much of a defensive breakdown as it is a smart goal. Amoruso has the awareness to find Jugovic in open field and removes much of Milan's rearguard from the picture.

53' The camera pans to Baggio, who looks agitated as he discusses something with the coaching staff. He wants to get on the field. But he's still in the dugout with his training jacket on.

58' Juventus are dominating and the fans are ole-ing every touch with a half hour still to play. Zidane is spraying passes left and right and having a grand old time in the middle of this concert he's conducting.

63' Baggio's introduction has galvanized Milan's ranks. Finally, they have some forward momentum. Savicevic rotates out of a tough spot and moves the ball to Desailly, who launches a 30-yard bomb to Simone on the opposite side of the field. Simone's pass into the area sets up Boban beautifully, but he can't make good contact and Peruzzi easily collects. Boban has his head in his hands. A minute later, Boban takes his turn as the playmaker, crossing for Baggio in the area, but his header goes wide.

71' It's 4-0. It's over. Milan haven't played horribly but the score makes it look like an absolute trucking. Jugovic again finds tons of space on the left side and pulls about four defenders as he drifts to the right of the penalty area. Alessio Tacchinardi relieves his teammate and sends a pass over the top to Vieri, who's all alone and scores after controlling with his left foot and rounding the 'keeper.

73' 5-0. Milan have now given up. Di Livio has had free rein of the right flank, completely outpacing and outmuscling Maldini, and his crossfield pass meets Jugovic on the left side. How is this guy still not covered? Rossi spills his shot and teammate Amoruso tucks in the rebound.

76' There's your consolation goal. It's a good one, too. Baggio flings a corner kick to the top of the penalty area and Simone slides to make excellent contact. Peruzzi ends up on his back as he tries and fails to keep out Simone's low and driven volley. It's the least Milan deserve.

81' Vieri scores his second of the game to complete the 6-1 rout. Jugovic is the quarterback of the play, launching a devastating pass down the middle for Vieri, who again makes the finish look easy.