ITALIAN SUPER CUP 1988

A journalist from the Dutch newspaper ‘De Telegraaf’ came up with the idea of the European Super Cup, a match to be played between the winners of the European Cup and UEFA Cup Winners’'Cup, and AC Milan participated in the first edition. However, things didn’t quite go to plan against Ajax… Then, when the same trophy was created on a national level, the Diavolo once again took part in its inaugural game. This time, AC Milan, champions of Italy, were successful in the one-off showdown against Sampdoria, the Coppa Italia winners.

In the match played in June 1989, a few weeks after AC Milan's European triumph in Barcelona, the Rossoneri came out victorious in front of 20,000 spectators at San Siro. Gianluca Vialli opened the scoring for the Blucerchiati, but then Arrigo Sacchi's team sprung to life. After Rijkaard's equaliser, goals from Mannari and van Basten sealed a 3-1 Rossoneri win. Sampdoria were argumentative at the end of the match, but Arrigo Sacchi referred to the excellent football that had been on display.