![]() In 2005 rumours were already swirling in the stands. Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reggina were docked points. ![]() ![]() Juventus were relegated to Serie B for their part and stripped of two titles. However, in 2006 both would be implicated in the Calciopoli scandal. Inter carried the unwanted tag of 'August champions' among rival fans, who mocked the expectations that had been built up in the summer transfer market and invariably fizzled out by the time silverware was at stake in May.Īmong Inter supporters, there was an underlying feeling that they were running an unfair race - between them, Milan and Juventus had won 11 of the previous 13 titles. Chairman Massimo Moratti broke the transfer world record twice in three years, first to sign Ronaldo from Barcelona in 1997 and then to get Christian Vieri from Lazio in 1999.Ĭrespo and Seedorf had arrived at Inter on big deals, but failed to land any significant silverware, before uniting across the divide at Milan.įabio Cannavaro had also come and gone - a misfiring two-year spell ending with a move to Juventus.īy 2005 the Inter midfield was built around the Argentina pair of Cambiasso and Juan Sebastian Veron, while ahead of them precocious Brazil forward Adriano was enjoying his most prolific season in a black and blue shirt. Inter, meanwhile, had spent lavishly to try and compete with Milan and Juventus. Owner Silvio Berlusconi was building his second truly great Milan side and the entrepreneur-turned-politician had trusted Carlo Ancelotti, a member of the team that won successive European Cups in 19, to deliver another period of success as manager.įor the quarter-final second leg a formidable back four of Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini sat behind Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Massimo Ambrosini and Kaka, with Hernan Crespo - formerly of Inter - and Andriy Shevchenko up front. Milan also headed into the 2004-05 campaign as Italian champions - a sixth Scudetto since Inter last got their hands on the Serie A title in 1988-89. Milan went on to beat Juventus on penalties in the final at Old Trafford. Milan had knocked Inter out of the competition two years earlier on away goals, despite both semi-final legs ending in a draw at the San Siro. They started throwing down objects, flares, and did not stop for about 15 or 20 minutes. "The Inter Milan supporters were freaking out. "It just blew up when they disallowed the goal from Esteban Cambiasso. It was a nice atmosphere there was adrenaline. ![]() "When you put your feet on to the pitch, you can feel that it's not just a soccer match. They don't fight a lot, but the choreography of the supporters is huge and great, so you can really feel it, even if you're not a player. "The atmosphere that night was like every time you have an AC Milan and Inter derby at the San Siro," says Rellandini, who was working for Reuters at the time. With 73 minutes played of the second leg, the referee abandoned the match and the tie was later awarded to Milan, who were leading 3-0 on aggregate. 'A problematic relic' - what is the future for San Siro?.Can you name AC Milan and Inter's teams from 2005?.What to look for as Milan meet Inter in Champions League semi-final.The picture has its own legacy, but it also captured the end of AC Milan and Inter Milan's most recent Champions League match a 2005 quarter-final that was abandoned after flares and other objects rained down on the San Siro turf from a section of Inter fans, one striking and injuring Milan goalkeeper Dida. For several seconds Materazzi put his elbow on the shoulder of Rui Costa. Rui Costa was the opposite - more gentle, more artistic in his football. "Materazzi was nicknamed something like a butcher he is not really a gentle player. "But near the centre of the pitch I saw a certain moment. "Everyone was focused on the flares, on the smoke," photographer Stefano Rellandini, who captured that iconic image 18 years ago, tells BBC Sport.
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