When in December 2020 the speaker announced that the two teams to face in the round of 32 of the Europa League were AC Milan and Red Star, the management of both teams were happy. In Milan because they got a seemingly easy opponent, and in Belgrade because they get to play against one of the greatest football clubs in Europe.

But when the euphoria died down, they realized that this will be a match between two former Champions League winners. Red Star and AC Milan were the only pair in the "hat" that had the most coveted football trophy under their belt!

The rivalry between these two teams started all the way back in 1988, and since then they played also in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League in 2006. and of course last week. In all the matches Milan prevailed.

In the 1988 match, Milan had the most capable and arguably the most powerful team in Europe. The Red Star had names such as Dragan Stojkovic Piksi and Dejan Savicevic, and Milan had players that were truly the stuff of legend - Baresi, Maldini, Rijkaard, Ancelotti and Van Basten. The first match ended in a draw (1:1), the second one was to be played in Belgrade.

SOURCE: YT / Crni Guja

The second match started furiously. It was obvious both teams came to win, but the Red Star had the upper hand and was leading 1:0, before the famous Belgrade fog set in covering the entire city. The game was stopped, and scheduled to be continued the next day. From the start, Milan was more aggressive and they managed to even the result to 1:1.

The game ended in a draw, the winner was to be decided by a penalty shootout. Milan won.

SOURCE: YT / Crvena zvezda

These two matches against Red Star were a bit of a wakeup call for Milan. They were the best team in Europe, and yet they barely managed to scrape through.

After a near defeat in Belgrade, Milan went on to capture the Champions League title. But on the other hand European football got Dejan Savicevic, who went on 3 years later to capture the Champions League cup with the Red Star. Dejan Savicevic also went on to play for Milan, where he truly made a name for himself. His style of play was so unique that many compared rookie Messi and his way of playing to that of Savicevic.

After the so-called Calciopoli match rigging scandal in 2006, Milan managed to bounce back and win a chance to again compete in the Champions League. They had a tough team, and again they had to face Red Star.

As it is often so, history repeated itself, Milan went through and won the title again.

The two matches played last week between AC Milan and Red Star will be remembered as the only Europa League match of the pre semifinal rounds that pitted two former Champions League winners against each other. In Belgrade, the game ended in a draw (2:2).

SOURCE: YT / Crvena zvezda

But the second match caught everyone by surprise. In the middle of the city of Milan, on the San Siro, AC Milan withdrew and Red Star was on the offensive. Marko Ivanic danced on the field as Dragan Stojkovic did three decades ago. The pressure on the home team was relentless, and not even after being reduced to 10 men did Red Star cease to attack.

But in the end, it was the goalkeeper Donnarumma that saved Milan.

SOURCE: YT / Aldânio B7M

VIDEO: On the 1:24 mark Donnarumma makes a masterful save.

When all is said and done, if we are to believe that history will repeat itself again, the stars might be telling us that Milan might be again on the road to the Europa League football throne. The simple matter is that in the last 30 years, every time Milan played and won over Red Star - they won the title.

Every time.

Autor: redportal.rs