Memorable European Confrontations, Part two-1989 AC Milan vs. Real Madrid
In April of 1989, Italy’s AC Milan and Spain’s Real Madrid were paired in the semi finals of the 1989 edition of Champions Cup.
Milan backed by ambitious owner Silvio Berlusconi, were making their first entry in the Champions Cup in nearly a decade.
This team managed by Arrigo Sacchi, led by its Dutch trio of Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard, was about to make its mark in Europe.
AC Milan was off the pace in the League to cross-town rivals Inter and had all their attention in winning the Champions Cup.
They had easily disposed of Bulgaria’s Vitoscha in the first round, but had endured two difficult matches with Yugoslavia’s Red Star Belgrade led by Dragan Stojkovic.
After two one-one ties, they defeated Red Star and penalty kick shoot-out. In the quarterfinals, West Germany’s Werder Bremen were also defeated by a van Basten penalty kick after a scoreless first leg.
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Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, April 12-18, 1989
(AC Milan lineup, standing left to right: Maldini, van Basten, Galli, Ancelotti, Gullit, Rijkaard, Bottom left to right: Donadoni, Baresi, Evani, Colombo, Tassoti)
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Real Madrid with its prolific Mexican striker Hugo Sanchez and a host of Spanish internationals were playing in their third straight Champions Cup Semifinals and were well on their way to a fourth straight League title.
Real had defeated Norway’s Moss and Poland’s Gornik Zabrze in the first two rounds.
In the quarterfinals they had gained revenge over defending champions PSV Eindhoven of Holland, who had eliminated them in the previous season’s semifinals.
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Photo From: L’Annee du Football 1989
(Manuel Sanchis and Ruud Gullit heading for the ball) |
The Semifinals between these two historical teams promised to be memorable, though no one could have predicted just how one sided it would turn out.
The first leg on April 5th was played at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Naturally given their past, most expected Real to completely dominate from the onset.
Real Manager, Dutchman Leo Beenhakker ruled against individual marking and in defense selected Miguel Tendillo in place of Esteban.
AC Milan played a zonal game with constant pressing.
However, AC Milan was clearly the better team. Real’s Michel and Schuster had no ideas against Milan’s game plan and were never in control.
It was estimated that Real lost the ball 48 times during this match.
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Photo From: France Football, April 11, 1989, issue 2244
(Franco Baresi and Emilio Butragueno) |
Despite falling behind just before halftime to a Sanchez goal, Milan was unfazed and looked more in control.
Sanchez scored from an acrobatic volley after a corner taken by Schuster and headed by Tendillo.
The Italians tied when van Basten scored off an incredible jumping header from the edge of the 18-yard box from a cross by Tassoti.
Gullit also scored a goal in the 64th minute, which was ruled out.
This was a significant result, because Real had not been dominated at home in this fashion in European play in recent memory.
In fact their results against Italian opposition was mostly positive. Most teams had arrived at Bernabeu expecting a massacre and defended en masse. However, this Milan was different and was taking the fight to the opposition even away from home.
Real’s Butragueno went as far as to say that he has never met such a strong team and it is obviously led by a great Manager. Some took this as a subtle insult to his manager.
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Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, April 12-18, 1989
(van basten scoring) |
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Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, April 12-18, 1989
(Hugo Sanchez scoring)
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April 5, 1989
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (Spain) 1- Associazione Calcio Milan-Milano (Italy) 0
Champions Cup- Semi Finals, First Leg
Venue: Madrid- Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
Attendance: 95,000
Referee: Erik Frederiksson (Sweden)
Goalscorers: (Real Madrid): Hugo Sanchez 41
(AC Milan): Marco van Basten 78
Lineups:
Real Madrid:
1-Francisco Buyo, 2-Miguel Chendo, 5-Manuel Sanchis, 10-Ricardo Gallego, 3-Miguel Tendillo, 8-Bernd Schuster (West Germany), 4-Michel (16-Francisco Llorente 82), 11-Rafael Martin Vasquez, 6-Rafael Gordillo, 7-Emilio Butragueno, 9-Hugo Sanchez (Mexico)
Coach: Leo Beenhakker (Holland)
Other Subs:
12-Jesus Solana, 13-Agustin, 14-Esteban, 15-Adolfo Aldana
Team Captain: Ricardo Gallego
Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Hummel
Shirt Sponsor: Parmalat
Uniform Colors: White Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks
AC Milan:
1-Giovanni Galli, 2-Mauro Tassoti, 5-Frank Rijkaard (Holland), 6-Franco Baresi, 3-Paolo Maldini, 4-Angelo Colombo (13-Alessandro Costacurta 89), 7-Roberto Donadoni, 8-Carlo Ancelotti, 11-Alberigo Evani, 10-Ruud Gullit (Holland) (16-Pietro Paolo Virdis 77), 9-Marco van Basten (Holland)
Coach: Arrigo Sacchi
Booked: Tassoti 53
Other Subs: 12-Davide Pinato, 14-Roberto Mussi, 15-Fabio Viviani
Team Captain: Franco Baresi
Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Kappa
Shirt Sponsor: Mediolanum
Uniform Colors: Red/Black Vertical striped Shirts, Black Shorts , Black Socks
For the return leg on April 19th, Milan had the away goal advantage and therefore, Real could not afford to play a defensive game.
Days prior to the match, AC Milan’s Alberigo Evani had been injured by a youth team player in practice, which led to the re-organization of the squad.
Alessandro Costacurta was called up in central defense and Rijkaard moved up in midfield.
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Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, April 26-May 2, 1989
(Ancelotti scoring the first goal, with Martin Vasquez looking on) |
The result that followed was completely unbelievable. AC Milan demolished the mighty Real 5-0 and inflicted it one of its worst defeats ever.
It was not just the result but also the manner. Italian teams were still in general defensive minded teams, yet this Milan was the epitome of attacking Football.
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Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, April 26-May 2, 1989
(Rijkaard scoring of a header) |
AC Milan led 3-0 by halftime; a long-range shot by Ancelloti was followed by two headed goals by Rijkaard and Gullit.
In early second half Rijkaard and Gullit combined to assist their Dutch compatriot van Basten to score from close range.
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Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, April 26-May 2, 1989
(van basten scoring the fourth goal)
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Roberto Donadoni completed the scoring with another long-range shot and with still half an hour left in the contest, Milan played possession football and controlled the rest of the contest.
Gullit sustained an injury and was substituted midway in the second half.
Real had never looked so out of sorts and this was one of its most humiliating performances.
Europe witnessed the birth of a new team and a dynasty.
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Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, April 26-May 2, 1989
(Martin Vasquez and Baresi) |
April 19, 1989
Associazione Calcio Milan-Milano (Italy) 5-Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (Spain) 0
Champions Cup- Semi Finals, Second Leg
Venue: Milano-Stadio Giuseppe Meazza ,San Siro
Attendance: 70,000
Referee: Alex Ponnet (Belgium)
Goalscorers: (AC Milan): Carlo Ancelotti 19, Frank Rijkaard 27, Ruud Gullit 45, Marco van Basten 49, Roberto Donadoni 60
(Real Madrid): None
Lineups:
AC Milan:
1-Giovanni Galli, 2-Mauro Tassoti, 5-Alessandro Costacurta, 6-Franco Baresi, 3-Paolo Maldini, 4-Angelo Colombo (13-Fillipo Galli 63), 8-Frank Rijkaard (Holland), 11-Carlo Ancelotti, 7-Roberto Donadoni, 9-Marco van Basten (Holland), 10-Ruud Gullit (Holland) (16-Pietro Paolo Virdis 57)
Coach: Arrigo Sacchi
Team Captain: Franco Baresi
Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Kappa
Shirt Sponsor: Mediolanum
Uniform Colors: Red/Black Vertical striped Shirts, White Shorts , White Socks
Real Madrid:
1-Francisco Buyo, 2-Miguel Chendo, 5-Manuel Sanchis, 10-Ricardo Gallego, 3-Rafael Gordillo, 11-Rafael Martin Vasquez, 4-Michel, 8-Bernd Schuster (West Germany), 7-Emilio Butragueno, 9-Hugo Sanchez (Mexico), 6-Francisco Llorente
Coach: Leo Beenhakker (Holland)
Booked: Sanchez 4
Team Captain: Ricardo Gallego
Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Hummel
Shirt Sponsor: Parmalat
Uniform Colors: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
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