VENEZIA V AC MILAN: A PREVIOUS MEETING

We're going back to the lagoon for the first time in 20 years. AC Milan will take to the pitch at the Penzo after last travelling to Venice on 24 February 2002 (4-1 win). The second match of the girone di ritorno - gameweek 21 overall - is sure to be an intriguing edition of Venezia v AC Milan. Zanetti's men take on Pioli's Rossoneri at 13:30 CET. With just hours to go until kick-off, let's take a trip back in time for a previous meeting between the two sides. 

SETTING THE SCENE
4 October 1998, Serie A matchday 4. Venezia and AC Milan faced off the first time since 29 January 1967 - over 31 years prior - which the Rossoneri won 2-1 at the Penzo thanks to a Sormani brace. Fast forward to the 1998/99 season and a title-winning campaign for the Rossoneri. Alberto Zaccheroni's AC Milan travelled to Venice following a defeat home to Fiorentina (with a Batistuta hattrick), which soured a winning start to the campaign with victories over Bologna and Salernitana. On the other hand, we had Novellino's Venezia, who had taken just one point in their first three games and were dreaming of a big upset.

BIERHOFF OPENS THESCORING
Zac went with his favoured 3-4-3: N'Gotty, Costacurta and Maldini in front of Lehmann, with Helveg and Ba out wide; Boban and Albertini in the centre of the park; Leonardo and Ganz flanking the line striker Oliver Bierhoff. And it was the German who opened the scoring after just three minutes played. Leonardo swung in the corner, which Bierhoff turned home to make it 1-0 to AC Milan. The Rossoneri, rather than push on after taking the lead, chose to sit back, which invited the Lagunari back into the game. The home side threatened on numerous occasions, with De Franceschi looking particularly dangerous. Venezia against pushed at the start of the second half; in the 54th minute, Schwoch failed to turn it home from Dal Canto's ball in.

LEONARDO DOUBLES OUR LEAD
Zaccheroni shuffled the pack, sending on Coco and Ambrosini to replace Ba and Boban respectively. Tempers on the pitch began to flare and referee Ceccarini showed a red card Novellino - ex-Rossonero and Scudetto winner - for dissent. In the 67th minute, the hosts went close to an equaliser through Iachini but Lehmann did well to parry the deflected effort. Just minutes later, the Rossoneri's killer instinct kicked in: Bierhoff turned provider as he set up Leonardo, who stuck it past Taibi with his left to make it 2-0. As the game drew to a close, Lehmann denied attempts from De Franceschi and Buonocore to secure a win for AC Milan at the Penzo.

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