SAMPDORIA v AC MILAN: TIME MACHINE

Upon their return from Salzburg, Pioli and his team will have to focus their attention back on the league ahead of Saturday's trip to Genoa where they face Sampdoria. For the fans, a trip to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris will no doubt bring back memories of many unforgettable moments on Ligurian soil against the blucerchiati. Between the 80's and 90's in particular, both teams were at the height of their game and were experiencing one of the most successful periods in their respective histories. This meant that every contest between the two sides was a blockbuster, which made for great viewing. In our Time Machine we travel back to the 1991/92 season to relive the events that occurred at the Marassi.

SETTING THE SCENE
17 November 1991, Boskov's defending champions Sampdoria host current leaders AC Milan and their coach Capello on matchday 10 of Serie A. Having won the Scudetto in the previous season largely due to the goal-scoring duo of Vialli and Mancini, the blucerchiati now find themselves slightly off the pace following a rough start to the new campaign. The Rossoneri on the other hand, under the management of a fresh-faced, Friulian coach have already begun to launch their attack on the title as they sit in first place after eight games with 14 points from a possible 16.

WHAT A SAVE, BILLY!
The first half at the Marassi was hardly anything to write home about as Vierchowod lead the Sampdorian back line whose defensive efforts prevented van Basten and Massaro from having even the slightest chance. Towards the end of the half however, Vialli managed to break through the back line and, after knocking it past Rossi, fired the ball towards the goal: but he was denied by a miraculous slide by Costacurta!

DOING THE DOUBLE
The second half was a completely different story as an unstoppable Ruud Gullit took the reins. In the 65th minute AC Milan's number 10 pounced on a soft pass from van Basten and knocked it past Pagliuca to make it 1-0. Ruud then hit the crossbar with a fantastic shot from outside the box. The second goal was a belter: the Dutch international combined with fellow countryman van Basten and found the net for a second time with a first-time volley. The Dutchmen were flying and Capello's side were well on their way to their 12th Scudetto.

Tickets for AC Milan-Dinamo Zagreb are now available: see you at San Siro!