The AC Milan team of 2005 was a thing of beauty. Whilst they would go on to lose their biggest match of that season perhaps the most iconic match was against rivals Inter Milan.
The fact that AC Milan didn't win the Champions League in 2005 is a bit of a crime against football. Of course they were incredibly and surprisingly stopped by Liverpool's amazing comeback in Istanbul, so it's difficult to hold it against the footballing gods.
But Milan were something special. The names speak for themselves; Cafu, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Jaap Stam, Massimo Ambrosini, Gennaro Gattuso, Kaka. Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Hernan Crespo, Filippo Inzaghi, Andriy Shevchenko and Rui Costa.
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Pirlo, Seedorf and Kaka- not a bad midfield! Image: PA Images
In charge of that rag-tag group of outcasts, or you know world class talent, was Carlo Ancelotti, who'd managed the Rossoneri to a Champions League title in 2003.
Two years later and they would again challenge Europe's elite with a run to the final.
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However in the quarter final they came up against a very close rival of theirs in Inter Milan. The two Milan sides had met in Milan's title win two years earlier in the semi-final, where Milan won on away goals even though both games were of course at the San Siro.
Rui Costa, some player! Image: PA Images
In the first leg Milan, as home team, won 2-0 with goals from Stam and Shevchenko. Inter had it all to do in the second leg but a club with the likes of Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso, Juan Sebastien Veron and Adriano were capable of pulling the two goals back.
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However Shevchenko put Milan 1-0 up on the 30 minute mark in the 'return' leg to all but guarantee their passage into a second final in three years but the drama wasn't to end there.
Cambiasso thought he'd given his side a chance in the 72nd minute with a headed goal but it was disallowed for a push and after showing dissent to the referee he was booked.
Dida after being hit by a firework. Image: PA Images
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That moment sparked angry Inter fans to set off flares and them, along with plastic bottles and even umbrellas onto the pitch behind Dida's goal.
As chaos rained down from the stands ref Markus Merk delayed play for 20 minutes. The delay birthed one of the most infamous pictures in football as Rui Costa and Marco Materazzi stood, the defender leaning on his opponents shoulder, watching the mayhem.
After 20 minutes the match seemed set to go ahead and Merk allowed the game to restart only for a firework to be thrown on the pitch moments later and hit Dida on the shoulder.
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At that point the referee had no choice but to abandon the game and send the players back to the changing rooms with the stadium no longer a safe place for the 'away' team.
Ancelotti's team were awarded the game meaning they won the second leg 3-0 and the tie 5-0!
Inter were made to play their next four home European fixtures behind closed doors as punishment for failing to control their fans.
Will we see signs of that nature again?
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Serie A, AC Milan, Champions League, Italy, Inter Milan