Football Was Simple, Then Came AC Milan

Before and after the 90's, the most lucrative league in Europe was the Italian Serie A, with almost all star players from Europe or outside Europe were playing Serie A or wanting to play. At that time, Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan side was such a team, that there was no shortage of solid defense, a flexible midfield, attacking fire, star players. One of the best performances of that AC Milan side was in rhe expense of another powerful team in Europe, Real Madrid. Under Leo Benhacker, that side of Real Madrid was known as the "Quinta del Buitre", with five homegrown players - Emiliano Butragueno, Manolo Sanches, Rafael Martin Vasquez, Michel and Mikel Pardez. As well as Hugo Sanchez and Bernd Schuster. This team won the La Liga title 5 times (1985-90), a record any club has yet to break. And also regularly competed in European competitions.

Real Madrid faced AC Milan in the semifinals of the 1989/90 European Cup. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw at Real's home ground. The two team lined up in San Siro looking something like this. And both of them used the 4-4-2 formation which was pretty much a default formation in European football by then.

Milan-

Galli
Tasotti-Costacurta-Baresi-Maldini
Ancelotti-Rijkaard-Colombo-Donadoni
Van Basten-Gullit

Real Madrid -

Buo
Chendo-Sanches-Gallego-Gordillo
Michel-Schuster-Vasquez-Paco Lorente
Butragueno-Hugo Sanchez

The two sides observed a moment of silence for the Hillsborough tragedy before the start of the match, then Real Madrid kicked off and at first the AC Milan side seemed nervous for a moment. Galli parried a cross from Michel which was provided by an exquisite pass from Schuster. A little later AC Milan attacked. Van Basten header misses the target narrowly. Milan penetrated Real's defense and scored in the 18th minute of the match, Ancelotti's long range shot could not be stopped by Real keeper Buo who was in the wrong position. Milan's second goal in the 25th minute, Frank Rijkaard's header from a corner. Real also got a chance after that, after the release of Butragueno by Michel's pass, Galli came forward and blocked it. Then Gordillo also got a chance and could not put the ball into the net. Although Madrid could not convert their opportunity, it did not happen in the case of Milan, Ruud Gullit increased the lead before half time. The game was almost over by then. The second half didn't go so well, with Marco van Basten firing in the 49th minute of the second half and Roberto Donadoni's goal in the 60th minute to give the Rossonneri a 5-0 victory.

Milan's defense, consisting of Maldini, Baresi, and Tassotti, was rock solid, and one of the great strengths of this defense was the offside trap. Young Paolo Maldini was more aggressive at the time, often as an extra midfielder. As long as Ruud was on the field, he was in a good mood. He was repeatedly going down in the free roll behind Van Basten, passing, creating and being the goal threat he was. Milan midfielders did not give Real a chance to recover any misspass, even if they did, they would quickly press Madrid and take the ball back. Although Madrid's Quinta del Buitre was a great success at the domestic level, it did not succeed in the European competition. This loss was the biggest in Real Madrid's European football history, and essentially ended the Quinta del Buitre. Milan, meanwhile, led Stua Bucharest to the title with four goals in the final, and Milan's European dominance began, with them reaching the final five times in the following six seasons, winning three.

To this day, the only flawless game in the history of football. The once unbeatable Madrid humbled like never before, by a better manager, a better striker, a better defense, a better midfield. To this day Real Madrids worst European loss ever. This Milan team could thrash anyone, looked like God amongst men.