TIME MACHINE: VIRDIS IN HELLAS VERONA v AC MILAN

When you mention Verona and the Bentegodi Stadium, it evokes both sweet and bitter memories in the Rossoneri history. In this place, we've achieved important victories in the race for a title or European placement, but also suffered painful defeats. The match against the Gialloblù is rich in memorable precedents, and the hope ahead of our 29th Serie A match is that the upcoming Hellas Verona v AC Milan clash can fall on the right side of our history. Just as it did in the 1987/88 season, decided by a superb goal from Pietro Paolo Virdis.

In the 1980s, the match against Hellas Verona was quite a heated affair, against one of the best teams in the Italian league. Particularly, on the afternoon of 25 October 1987, the Rossoneri arrived in Veneto eager to secure a victory that had eluded them at the Bentegodi for almost 9 years (last win 3-1 in the 1978/79 season). Strongly revamped in the summer, with arrivals such as Ancelotti, Colombo, Gullit, and van Basten joining Arrigo Sacchi on the bench, Milan had collected 6 points in the first five matches and advanced in both the Coppa Italia and the first round of the UEFA Cup against Sporting Gijón. However, just before the clash against the Gialloblù, a setback at home (against Espanyol in Lecce) in Europe had occurred. The moment was complex, gaining points was a necessity.

After the technical staff had earned the full trust of the ownership, the team responded in the best possible way, approaching a tight and balanced match excellently. Ruud Gullit, in particular, was inspired, repeatedly testing the opposing goalkeeper Giuliani. The Rossoneri's attempts were rewarded 4 minutes before half-time, with the goal making it 1-0. Donadoni's corner kick, Pietro Paolo Virdis' header beating the Gialloblù goalkeeper with a twist. For the Sardinian striker, it was his fifth goal of the season in all competitions. For AC Milan, it was the decisive goal in a victory that, in hindsight, would prove to be one of the key moments in clinching the 11th Rossoneri Scudetto.

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