Bordeaux
and AC Milan were paired in the Quarterfinals of the 1995/96 UEFA Cup.
The
Italian were the premier Team in European Football having won the Champions Cup
(later called Champions League) three times in the previous eight years and
reached the Final on two other occasions.
The
squad managed by Fabio Capello had some of the best Italian players around such
as Legends like Captain Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Baggio as well as
the likes of Alessandro Costacurta, Christian Panucci, Roberto Donadoni, etc.
The
foreign contingent included the recent 1995 Ballon d’Or, the Liberian (and
former Paris St. Germain) forward George Weah, Croatian midfielder Zvonimir
Boban and Yugoslavia’s Dejan Savicevic.
In
the midseason they had acquired promising young French player Patrick Vieira.
The
team were riding high in the League and were on their way to claim a fourth
Scudetto in five seasons.
They
had qualified from their opening rounds by defeating Poland’s Zaglebie Lubin
(4-0, 4-1 away), France’s Strasbourg (1-0 away, 2-1 away) and Czech Republic’s
Sparta Prague (2-0 home, 0-0).
In
contrast, French club Bordeaux had been struggling in the League and were in
the lower half of the table.
They
had replaced their Manager, the Yugoslavian, Slavo Muslin with youth coach,
their long serving former German defender Gernot Rohr.
Despite
their struggles the team did have quality and formed a backbone with the trio
of future Legend Zidane Zidane along with defender Bixente Lizarazu and striker
Christophe Dugarry.
The
team also included former Ajax and Barcelona midfielder and Dutch International
Richard Witschge and Denmark’s Jacob Friis-Hansen.
They
had advanced via the Intertoto Cup and had started the previous July.
After
making their entry through the backdoor of the Intertoto Cup, Bordeaux had
qualified from their opening rounds by defeating FYR Macedonia’s Vardar Skopje
(0-2 away, 1-1 home), Russia’s Rotor Volgograd (2-1 home, 1-0 away) and Spain’s
Real Betis (2-0 home, 1-2).
The
first leg, on March 5th, was played at Milan’s Stadio Giuseppe
Meazza (San Siro).
Milan
fans used to the glamour of the Champions League did not view this competition
as highly and the low turn-out (just over 22, 0000) reflected that, as did some
of Capello’s selections.
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(Team
captains, Bixente Lizarazu and Franco Baresi, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC Milan
2-Bordeaux 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2605, March 12, 1996
(Bordeaux
bench with Manager Gernot Rohr and Club President Alian Affelou, March 5, 1996,
UEFA Cup, AC Milan 2-Bordeaux 0)
|
First
choice goalkeeper Sebastiano Rossi was rested and in his place Mario Ielpo
started. Liberian striker George Weah was also missing.
Also
missing were, the injured Demetrio Albertini and Croatian Zvonimir Boban (out
because of the flu) in midfield.
 |
Photo
From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1996
(Patrick
Vieira and Zinedine Zidane, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC Milan 2-Bordeaux 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2605, March 12, 1996
(Bixente
Lizarazu between Alessandro Costacurta and Franco Baresi, March 5, 1996, UEFA
Cup, AC Milan 2-Bordeaux 0)
|
Their
absence gave a rare opportunity for young French midfielder Patrick Vieira to
start.
Bordeaux
Manager Gernot Rohr had lowered expectations before the match and had given his
team only a 10% chance of advancing. His main concern had been to leave Milan
without giving up many goals.
On
the pitch, Milan did the required minimum to win.
 |
Photo
From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1996
(Mario
Ielpo, Richard Witschge and Alessandro Costacurta, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC
Milan 2-Bordeaux 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1996
(Marcel Desailly, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC
Milan 2-Bordeaux 0) |
In
the 30th minute, Marco Simone sent a through ball inside the box for
Savicevic (back to the goal), who laid it on for Eranio to shoot past Huard.
Milan
sealed the match in the 75th minute, through a curling free kick
goal by Roberto Baggio.
Milan
had won without really exerting themselves and were seemingly in a comfortable
lead for the second leg given their recent history.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2605, March 12, 1996
(Patrick
Vieira and Zinedine Zidane, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC Milan 2-Bordeaux 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2605, March 12, 1996
(March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC Milan 2-Bordeaux 0) |
Capello
was dissatisfied that his team had not scored at least one more goal. He also
called into question the refereeing over an offside call against Baggio.
Bordeaux
had been defeated but it had not been the humiliation that many would have
predicted.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2605, March 12, 1996
(Christophe Dugarry, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC
Milan 2-Bordeaux 0) |
Gernot
Rohr was satisfied with his team’s display especially given their League
position.
Christophe
Dugarry felt a two goal deficit would be hard but they would do their utmost to
win.
Afterwards,
Bordeaux President maintained that despite financial difficulties, there was a
95% chance that Dugarry and Zidane would still remain part of the squad for
next season. (In the end neither player nor Affelou himself remained for the
following season).
 |
Photo
From: L’Annee du Football, 1996
(Gaetan
Huard unable to stop Baggio’s free kick, March 5, 1996, UEFA Cup, AC Milan
2-Bordeaux 0)
|
March 5, 1996
AC
(Associazione Calcio) Milan-Milano (Italy) 2- Football Club Des Girondins de
Bordeaux (France) 0
UEFA
Cup- Quarterfinals, First Leg
Venue: Milano -Stadio Giuseppe
Meazza, San Siro
Attendance: 22,740
Referee: Vadim Zhuk (Belarus)
Goalscorers: (AC Milan): Stefano Eranio
30th, Roberto Baggio 75th
(Bordeaux):
None
Lineups:
AC
Milan:
1-Mario
Ielpo, 2-Christian Panucci, 3-Paolo Maldini, 4-Patrick Vieira (France),
5-Alessandro Costacurta, 6-Franco Baresi, 7-Stefano Eranio, 8-Marcel Desailly
(France), 9-Roberto Baggio, 10-Dejan Savicevic (Yugoslavia) (15-Roberto
Donadoni 87th), 11-Marco Simone (16-Paolo Di Canio 74th)
Coach:
Fabio Capello
Team
Captain: Franco Baresi
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Lotto
Shirt
Sponsor: Opel
Uniform
Colors: Red/Black Vertical Striped Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks
Bordeaux:
1-Gaetan
Huard, 2-Geoffrey Toyes, 3-Bixente Lizarazu, 4-Laurent Croci, 5-Jean-Luc Dogon,
6-Phillipe Lucas (12-Daniel Dutuel 81st), 7-Zinedine Zidane, 8-Jacob
Friis Hansen (Denmark), 9-Anthony Bancarel, 10-Richard Witschge (Holland),
11-Christophe Dugarry (Didier Tholot 88)
Coach:
Gernot Rohr (Germany)
Booked:
Geoffrey Toyes 45, Laurent Croci 86
Team
Captain: Bixente Lizarazu
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Asics
Shirt
Sponsor: Alain Affelou
Uniform Colors: White Shirts, White
Shorts, Burgundy Red Socks
The
second leg, on March 19th, was played at Bordeaux’s Stade Chaban-Delmas (Parc Lescure).
Milan were seemingly in a safe position and the match held
no indications that it would become a classic in a match between the Serie A
League leaders against a team in the 14th position in the French
League.
For Milan, Weah was back in the squad, along with Roberto
Donadoni.
Marco Simone was out as was Dejan Savicevic. The reason for
the withdrawal of Savicevic was a perceived injury. However, Salvo Muslin
(Bordeaux’s Manager just a few months prior) had learned from a journalist
friend in Yugoslavia that Savicevic was fit to play, but Capello had preferred
to rest him for the Serie A. Incidentally Muslin was in the stands for this
match, as was Prime Minister and Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppé.
For
Bordeaux, Croci was out and Friis-Hansen was moved into the defense.
 |
Photo
From: Football International, April 1996
(Team
captains, Bixente Lizarazu and Franco Baresi, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup,
Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: Football International, April 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
Daniel
Dutuel started in midfield and Didier Tholot started upfront in place of
Bancarel.
Bordeaux
started from the beginning and were determined to win this match.
Milan,
perhaps surprised by Bordeaux’s determination were out of sorts in this first
half and had one of their worst displays.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2607, March 26, 1996
(Gaetan
Huard and Paolo Maldini, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0
|
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2607, March 26, 1996
(Grenet
between Albertini and Donadoni, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan
0)
|
Bordeaux
took the lead in the 15th minute. Richard Witschge switched the field
with a long pass from the right to the left side to Lizarazu.
The
Bordeaux Captain crossed inside the box for Tholot to tap in. Mario Ielpo
attempted to stop the shot but the ball went in.
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(Didier
Tholot scoring, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: L’Annee du Football, 1996
(Didier
Tholot celebrating the first goal, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC
Milan 0)
|
Just
ten minutes later, Milan were dealt a blow when Eranio was injured and had to
be replaced by Albertini.
At
the start of the second half, Capello made a tactical switch to improve Milan’s
play. He took out Baggio and put in Paolo Di Canio.
At
first it appeared the change had been beneficial was Milan seemed better but
Bordeaux’s relentless surge continued.
 |
Photo
From: Football International, April 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: Football International, April 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
In
the 64th minute, Bordeaux scored its second to tie the series.
Zidane
took a free kick from the left side that took a deflection and fell for Dugarry
to score from the rebound.
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 110, March 1998
(Patrick
Vieira and Bixente Lizarazu , March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2607, March 26, 1996
(Marcel
Desailly, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0
|
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2607, March 26, 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0
|
Six
minutes later, in the 70th minute, Bordeaux scored its third to
overcome the deficit.
Lizarazu
released Zidane on the left side, who in turn tried to release Tholot but his
attempt was blocked and got back to him. Zidane then slid the ball to Dugarry
on the right side who shot high past Ielpo.
 |
Photo
From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1996
(Patrick
Vieira and Christophe Dugarry, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: Le Livre d'or du Football 1996
(George
Weah, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: L’Annee du Football, 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
Milan
still had two late chances by Weah, but Bordeaux goalkeeper Gaetan Huard came
to the rescue and saved the attempts.
In
the end Bordeaux won deservingly to seal one of the most memorable encounters
of the history of the European Cups.
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(Christophe
Dugarry, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(Zinedine
Zidane, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(Christophe
Dugarry, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
Milan
had not lost in Europe by three clear goals since 1978. AC Milan’s French
midfielder Marcel Desailly declared afterwards that he was ashamed of their
display especially in the first half. He did however emphasize that Milan had
not underestimate its opponents. Desailly felt Bordeaux had played
exceptionally well by pressing hard.
Veteran Belgian Manager Raymond Goethals would later remark
that AC Milan would never have played in such a careless manner in the
Champions League.
This
result is remembered in the annals of French Football as one of the greatest
performances by a French club in Europe.
It
was not just overturning a deficit but it must be remembered that Berlusconi’s
Milan were at the time Europe’s premier club.
 |
Photo
From: Planete Foot, April 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: Planete Foot, April 1996
(Franco
Baresi and Christophe Dugarry, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
Bordeaux
went on to eliminate Slavia Prague in the semifinals and advanced to the Final
of the UEFA Cup in May. They were overmatched in the Final by Bayern Munich and
were comprehensively defeated (0-2 away, 1-3 home) to end a European adventure
that had started the previous July.
That
season was also the onset of the Bosman ruling and Bordeaux predictably lost
its most valuable jewels.
AC
Milan themselves signed Christophe Dugarry, while Zidane headed for Juventus
and Lizarazu to Athletic Bilbao.
Even
players such as goalkeeper Gaetan Huard and midfielder Daniel Dutuel took
advantage of the new rules to move abroad.
AC
Milan clinched the League title to meet its primary objective.
This would remain as one of the biggest upsets
of European competitions.
March 19, 1996
Football
Club Des Girondins de Bordeaux (France) 3- AC (Associazione Calcio)
Milan-Milano (Italy) 0
UEFA
Cup- Quarterfinals, Second Leg
Venue: Bordeaux–
Stade
Chaban-Delmas (Parc Lescure)
Attendance: 32,500
Referee: Ahmet Cakar (Turkey)
Goalscorers: (Bordeaux): Didier Tholt 15th,
Chritophe Dugarry 64th, 70th
(AC Milan):
None
Lineups:
Bordeaux:
1-Gaetan
Huard, 2-Geoffrey Toyes, 3-Bixente Lizarazu, 4- Jacob Friis Hansen (Denmark),
5-Jean-Luc Dogon, 6-Phillipe Lucas, 7- Zinedine Zidane, 8- Daniel Dutuel (14- François Grenet 60th), 9-Didier Tholot
(13-Joachim Fernandez 85th), 10-Richard Witschge (Holland),
11-Christophe Dugarry
Coach:
Gernot Rohr (Germany)
Booked:
Christophe Dugarry 88
Other
Substitutes: 15-Anthony Bancarel, 16-Lionel Perez
Team
Captain: Bixente Lizarazu
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Asics
Shirt
Sponsor: Alain Affelou
Uniform
Colors: Burgundy Red Shirts, White Shorts, Burgundy Red Socks
AC
Milan:
1-Mario
Ielpo, 2-Christian Panucci, 3-Paolo Maldini, 4-Patrick Vieira (France),
(15-Tomas Locatelli 71st), 5-Alessandro Costacurta, 6-Franco Baresi,
7-Stefano Eranio (14-Demetrio Albertini 25th), 8-Marcel Desailly
(France), 9-George Weah (Liberia), 10-Roberto Baggio (16-Paolo Di Canio 46th),
11-Roberto Donadoni
Coach:
Fabio Capello
Booked:
Paolo Maldini 28, Alessandro Costacurta 44, Paolo Di Canio 71
Other
Substitutes: Mauro Tassoti, Massimo Ambrosini
Team
Captain: Franco Baresi
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Lotto
Shirt
Sponsor: Opel
Uniform
Colors: White shirts (thin red/black vertical stripe in middle), White Shorts, White Socks
References:
Football
International, April 1996
France
Football, Issue 2605, March 12, 1996
France
Football, Issue 2607, March 26, 1996
L'Annee
du Football, 1996
Le
Livre d'or du Football 1996
Onze-Mondial,
Issue 87, April 1996
Onze-Mondial,
Issue 110, March 1998
Planete
Foot, April 1996
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2607, March 26, 1996
(Bordeaux
squad celebrating, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: Football International, April 1996
(Bordeaux
President Alain Affelou joining the celebrations, March 19, 1996, UEFA Cup,
Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996
(March
19, 1996, UEFA Cup, Bordeaux 3-AC Milan 0)
|
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