Memorable European Confrontations, Part 13-1990 Internazionale Milano vs. Aston Villa

Internazionale Milano and Aston Villa were paired in the second round of the 1990/91 UEFA Cup.

The Italians, managed by Giovanni Trappatoni, boasted a star-studded squad.

The team contained the recent World Cup Champions German trio of Lothar Matthaus, Andreas Brehme and Jurgen Klinnsman.

The Italian Internationals on their squad were Walter Zenga, Giuseppe Bergomi, Riccardo Ferri, Nicola Berti and Aldo Serena.

They had eliminated Austria’s Rapid Vienna in the first round.

This was the season that the English clubs were reprieved in UEFA competitions following the ban imposed after the Heysel disaster in 1985.

Aston Villa were England’s first representative back in the UEFA Cup.

Former Czechoslovakia National team manager Jozsef Venglos managed the side.

The team’s main star was English midfielder David Platt who had excelled in the recent World Cup in Italy and was eyeing a move to the Serie A himself.

Veterans Gordon Cowans, Derek Mountfield and Republic of Ireland’s Paul McGrath added steel and experience to a mostly inexperienced squad with little or no European experience.

They defeated Czechoslovakia’s Banik Ostrava in the first round with relative ease.

The first leg, on October 24th, was played in Birmingham’s Villa Park under the watchful eye of England National Team manager and former Aston Villa Manager Graham Taylor.

Aston Villa dominated and were rewarded with a surprisingly comfortable 2 to 0 win.

The Italians were missing young midfielder Alessandro Bianchi through suspension.

Aston Villa were missing Paul McGrath due to knee injury, therefore Venglos selected Andrew Comyn to deputize for him.

Photo From: France Football, October 30, 1990

(Lothar Matthaus and David Platt)

Internazionale performed poorly by their standards and many were surprised how much room David Platt and Daley were given to operate.

Only goalkeeper Walter Zenga came away with some credit, as Daley, Birch and Kent Nielsen had their opposite counterparts Brehme, Matthaus and Klinnsman in check.

Danish defender Kent Nielsen scored Villa’s first with a long range shot from outside the box in the 14^th minute.

Photo From: France Football, October 30, 1990

(Kent Nielsen and Klinnsman)

Midway through the second half Platt scored from close range from a pass by Cowans.

The Italian media and observers mostly praised Tony Daley and Platt.

Photo From: France Football, October 30, 1990

(Bergomi, Ferri and Battistini surrounding Tony Daley)

Trappatoni himself singled out Daley as the most dangerous opponent.

Graham Taylor commented that with Daley could become a National Team regular just like Platt with performances like this.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, October 30-November 6, 1990

(Nicola Berti and Tony Cascarino)

Inter President Ernesto Pellegrini insisted all is not lost and was confident despite the difficult task ahead.

Giovanni Trappatoni regretted his players missing 3 very good opportunities to score.

He parted by telling the English that ‘Europe was less beautiful without you.”

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, October 30-November 6, 1990

(David Platt and Nicola Berti)

October 24, 1990

Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham (England) 2- Internazionale Football Club-Milano (Italy) 0

UEFA Cup- Second Round, First Leg

Venue: Birmingham-Villa Park

Attendance: 36,491

Referee: Lajos Nemeth (Hungary)

Goalscorers: (Aston Villa): Kent Nielsen 14, David Platt 68

 (Internazionale): None

Lineups:

Aston Villa:

1-Nigel Spink, 2-Christopher Price, 3-Stuart Gray, 4-Andrew Comyn, 5-Derek Mountfield, 6-Kent Nielsen (Denmark), 7-Tony Daley, 8-David Platt, 9-Paul Birch, 10-Gordoan Cowans, Tony Cascarino (Republic of Ireland)

Coach: Jozsef Venglos (Czechoslovakia)

Other Subs:

12-Ian Olney, 13-Lee Butler, 14-Ian Ormondroyd, 15-Dwight Yorke (Trinidad and Tobago), 16-Noel Blake

Team Captain: Stuart Gray

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro

Shirt Sponsor: Mita Copiers

Uniform Colors: Claret with Sky Blue sleeves Shirts, White Shorts, Sky Blue Socks

Internazionale Milano:

1-Walter Zenga, 2-Giuseppe Bergomi, 3-Andreas Brehme (Germany), 4-Nicola Berti, 5-Riccardo Ferri, 6-Sergio Battistini, 7-Paolo Stringara, 8-Fausto Pizzi (15-Andrea Mandorlini 71^st), 9-Jurgen Klinnsman (Germany), 10-Lothar Matthaus (Germany),  11-Aldo Serena

Coach: Giovanni Trappatoni

Other Subs:

12-Astutillo Malgioglo, 13-Giuseppe Baresi, 14-Antonio Paganin, 16-Giuseppe Marino

Team Captain: Giuseppe Bergomi

Official Kit Supplier/Designer:  Uhlsport

Shirt Sponsor:  Misura

Uniform Colors: White Shirts, Black Shorts , Black Socks

The second leg, on November 7th, was played at Milan’s San Siro Stadium.

Alessandro Bianchi and Paul McGrath were back in their respective lineups.

Inter played one of its most memorable European matches and overturned a seemingly lost tie.

They attacked from the start and Klinnsman scored in the seventh minute by picking up a long ball from Battistini from their own half and beating Spink one on one.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, November 21-27, 1990

(Klinnsman after scoring the opener)

The second goal was scored in the 62^nd minute when Matthaus’ free kick on the right was nodded on across and Berti hammered home.

The third and winning goal in the 74^th minute was somewhat controversial, when Pizzi crossed from the left side, the ball seemed to have crossed the line and out, however the referee did not see it.

Photo From: France Football, November 13, 1990

(Kent Nielsen, Tony Cascarino and Klinnsman)

Bianchi volleyed the cross from a narrow angle and Aston Villa was out.

Despite the dubious nature of the third goal, Inter clearly deserved their victory and had outclassed Aston Villa.

Photo From: France Football, November 13, 1990

(Ferri, Paganin and Daley)

They had outshot Villa 17 to 6 and had won 9 corners to 1.

Bianchi and Pizzi stood out mostly with their performances.

Venglos conceded they had lost to one of the best teams in the world.

Photo From: Shoot, November 17, 1990

(Berti , Zenga and Platt)

Inter progressed and went on to win the UEFA Cup in the following May by defeating AS Roma in the final.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, November 21-27, 1990

(Berti scoring Inter’s second)

Giovanni Trappatoni later declared that it was after this tie with Aston Villa that he knew they could lift the trophy that season.

Photo From: Shoot, November 17, 1990

(A disappointed Platt and celebrating Inter players)

November 7, 1990

Internazionale Football Club-Milano (Italy) 3-Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham (England) 0

UEFA Cup- Second Round, Second Leg

Venue: Milano-Stadio Giuseppe Meazza ,San Siro

Attendance: 75,585

Referee: Alexei Spirin (USSR)

Goalscorers: (Internazionale): Jurgen Klinsmann 7, Nicola Berti 62,

        Alessandro Bianchi 74

  (Aston Villa):  None

Lineups:

Internazionale Milano:

1-Walter Zenga, 2-Giuseppe Bergomi, 3-Andreas Brehme (Germany), 4-Nicola Berti (Andrea Mandorlini 81^st), 5-Riccardo Ferri, 6-Sergio Battistini (Antonio Paganin 46^th), 7-Alessandro Bianchi, 8-Fausto Pizzi 9-Jurgen Klinnsman (Germany), 10-Lothar Matthaus (Germany),  11-Aldo Serena

Coach: Giovanni Trappatoni

Team Captain: Giuseppe Bergomi

Official Kit Supplier/Designer:  Uhlsport

Shirt Sponsor:  Misura

Uniform Colors: Black/Blue Vertical Striped Shirts, Black Shorts , Black Socks

Aston Villa:

1-Nigel Spink, 2-Christopher Price, 3-Stuart Gray, 4-Paul McGrath (Republic of Ireland), 5-Derek Mountfield (Ian Olney 81st), 6-Kent Nielsen (Denmark), 7-Tony Daley, 8-David Platt, 9-Paul Birch, 10-Gordoan Cowans, Tony Cascarino (Republic of Ireland)

Coach: Jozsef Venglos (Czechoslovakia)

Team Captain: Stuart Gray

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro

Shirt Sponsor: Mita Copiers

Uniform Colors: White sleeves Shirts, Sky Blue Shorts, White Socks