Milan-Liverpool Precedents: Unforgettable Clashes in Champions League History

Football, as we know, is made of great stories. And one of the most exciting, full of rivalries and twists, is the one that sees as protagonists Milan and Liverpool. This evening it Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan will host the fifth challenge between these two giants of European football, valid for the first phase of the Champions League 2024 / 25. But this will not be just a football match: it will be a confrontation that carries with it the weight of a shared history, made of triumphs, disappointments and legendary moments.

When we talk about Milan and Liverpool, our mind immediately goes to two epic Champions League finals, which have left an indelible mark in the memory of football fans and enthusiasts. The first meeting took place May 25, 2005 in Istanbul, in what would become one of the most incredible finals ever. Milan, led by Carlo Ancelotti, dominated the match with a clear 3-0 at the end of the first half, thanks to goals from Paolo Maldini and a double of Hernán Crespo. But in the second half, Liverpool's Rafael Benitez staged one of the most sensational comebacks in history, scoring three goals in six minutes with Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Shmicer e Xabi Alonso.

The match was then decided on penalties, where the goalkeeper Jerzy dudek became a hero, repelling the decisive shot of Andriy ShevchenkoThe match went down in history as "The Miracle of Istanbul", a painful night for Milan and unforgettable for the Reds fans.

But football always offers opportunities for redemption. Two years later, in 2007, the two teams met again in the final, this time at Athens. Milan, driven by the desire for revenge, managed to take their revenge. Thanks to a brace from Filippo Inzaghi, the Rossoneri won 2-1, bringing the Champions League back to Milan. The victory was particularly sweet for the Rossoneri, who were finally able to shake off the shadow of the defeat suffered in Istanbul.

After the finals, the two teams found themselves face to face in the group stage of the Champions League 2021 / 22. Liverpool, coached by the German Jürgen Klopp, confirmed itself as a solid and aggressive team, winning both challenges. The first match took place in Anfield on 15 September 2021 and ended with a 3-2 victory in favour of the Reds, thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah, Jordan Henderson and the own goal by the AC Milan centre-back Tumor, despite Milan having managed to recover from the initial disadvantage and take the lead thanks to the goals of Brahim Diaz e Ante Rebic.

In the return match, played on 7 December 2021 at San Siro, Liverpool won again, this time 2-1, thanks to a goal from Mohamed Salah and a goal from Divock Origi, now surplus to requirements of the Rossoneri coached by Paulo Fonseca. That Milan, although combative, was unable to keep up with the physical strength and the relentless pace of the English team, composed mostly of second string players, but who at the end of the year would have come to play for revenge in the final against Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid.

On Tuesday night, the spotlight will shine on two of Europe's most celebrated teams, both struggling with the start of a new cycle. However, the start of the season has told very different stories for Milan and Liverpool.

On one side, Milan, in the hands of the American ownership RedBird and with the new coach Paulo Fonseca on the bench after five years of Pioli's management, is facing many difficulties. The first seasonal outings have highlighted worrying defensive fragilities, culminating in just two points collected in the first three league games. For the seven-time Champions League winners, the start has been decidedly below expectations.

On the other hand, Liverpool, entrusted to the new coach Arne Slott, who inherited a heavy legacy from Jürgen Klopp, have had a much more convincing start. The Reds, after the first three days of the Premier League, share the top of the table with Manchester City on full points. The victories against Ipswich Town, Brentford e Manchester United were accompanied by an impeccable defensive phase: no goals conceded, a testament to the solidity and organization of Slot's team, which was able to give continuity to Klopp's winning imprint.

The duel at San Siro, therefore, will not only be a challenge between two historic clubs, but also a crucial test to measure the real state of form of both teams, in a new Champions League that does not allow distractions.