AC MILAN V CAGLIARI: A PREVIOUS MEETING

A true and proper goal-fest. The meeting of AC Milan and Cagliari on 22 November 2009 was one of the most electrifying matches in recent Serie A seasons for the Rossoneri: Seven goals - five of which came in the first half - for a final scoreline of 4-3, in a match full of comebacks, counter comebacks and plenty of emotion. It was the 13th matchday of Serie A 2009/10, a season in which the Rossoneri came in with renewed ambitions after the disappointment of the previous year: To keep up with the leaders, Inter and Juventus, the three points were fundamental against the Sardinians, then trained by Massimiliano Allegri. The three points were won, at the end of a thrilling game worth reliving.

THE SCENARIO
The summer of 2009 saw some important Rossoneri goodbyes, with the farewells of Paolo Maldini and Carlo Ancelotti preceding the transfer of Kaká to Real Madrid. While an absolute rookie, Leonardo, had been called in to replace the Coach of the triumphs in Manchester and Athens, the replacement for the great Rossoneri captain was a promising Brazilian defender with lots of potential: Thiago Silva. The Rossoneri responded to a difficult start in the league by introducing the "4-2-Fantasia", a highly offensive formation that saw the likes of Seedorf, Ronaldinho, Pato and Borriello on the pitch at the same time: A set-up that would also be a great feature of the match against the Sardinians at San Siro.

BACK AND FORTH

This win solidified the Rossoneri’s form, as they had won four of the previous five home league matches before this one. Clarence Seedorf was the man to kick off the action, finding the net after only five minutes of play after an exchange with Borriello. The guests’ response was immediate and important: Cagliari first equalised in the 9th minute with Matri, then silenced the San Siro in the 30th minute with a goal from Lazzari to take the advantage. The Rossoneri weren’t going to have it, and they made it 2-2 in the 39th minute with Borriello, quick to the rebound after a great save by a flying Marchetti kept out Pato’s header.

A FANTASTIC TRIANGLE

Cagliari were knocked back by the Neapolitan striker’s equaliser, so much so that AC Milan took the lead just 60 seconds later. And they did so with a goal that showed off the full offensive potential of the "4-2-Fantasia" formation: Borriello - in possession and away from the goal - read the run of Ronaldinho who cut back to receive; Dinho filtered the ball through first time for Pato, who read the situation well, starting his run before his teammate got the ball; the Rossoneri number seven received the ball and unloaded a rocket with his right boot into the top corner from the edge of the area, which Marchetti could do nothing about. The goal made it 3-2, coming at the end of the first half: A penalty from Ronaldinho would make it 4-2 in the 61st minute, and a goal from Nene would only serve to adjust the final score at 4-3.

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