ITALIAN SUPER CUP 2004

'Stasera la luna ti porterà fortuna, la luna…' (‘The moon will bring you luck tonight, the moon…’). A few lyrics from a song that had been very popular in Italy that summer. And during that evening in August 2004, there was a bright full moon at San Siro, so clear that it seemed like you’d be able to touch it if you reached out a hand. During the summer, AC Milan had made a few crucial changes to their squad, with Stam, Dhorasoo and Crespo coming in for Laursen, Redondo and Borriello. Just over a year after Manchester, AC Milan wanted to continue that winning feeling. Every trophy was important, including the Italian Super Cup. Very important.

With the Dutchman Stam in the starting line-up and Dhorasoo and Crespo sent on by Ancelotti as substitutes, it seemed like AC Milan were already a well-oiled machine shortly after the halfway point of the second half. Thanks in no small part to Andriy Shevchenko, who was in scintillating form, the Rossoneri eased past Lazio, securing a 3-0 win without breaking sweat. The Biancocelesti, a strong side, were simply overrun and didn’t get a look-in. The Diavolo thus began the season in a positive manner, closing the circle on their Scudetto triumph the previous season in doing so.