TIME MACHINE: VAN BASTEN IN UDINESE v AC MILAN

Between 21 January 1990 to 20 January 2024, 34 years have passed, and Udinese and AC Milan are approaching a new chapter in a story long and rich in tradition. With many protagonists and many dates to remember, among the numerous memories, it could not be without another memorable performance by an extraordinary striker. With talent, elegance, and limitless class, Marco van Basten was the absolute protagonist of the 1990 match in Friuli, decided by his double. Let's relive it with our Time Machine, awaiting the next meeting between the two sides.

Winner of the Ballon d'Or in the previous year, Marco's third season with the Rossoneri (1989/90) had not started in the best way due to a meniscus injury that kept him away from the pitch for over two months. At the halfway point, AC Milan chased Napoli in the table, who had won the first half of the season, but from matchday 11 onwards, Sacchi's team put together a streak of positive results that allowed them to approach the top spot. Udinese v AC Milan, on matchday 21, is a match not to be missed to string together the fifth consecutive victory in Serie A. The Rossoneri are, in fact, coming off four significant wins, the last decided by a hat-trick from the "Swan of Utrecht" against Atalanta at San Siro.

Udinese sought for salvation points, but Milan starts strong and takes the lead in the 12’ minute: Tassotti fed van Basten, who hammered it past Abate with a precise diagonal, and the match immediately goes downhill for Udinese. The 1-0 reassures the Rossoneri who managed the game with authority without risking anything. In the end, however, Udinese become insistent, and then the Dutchman strikes again taking care of settling the score. In the 80’ minute, Massaro escapes behind the Bianconeri defense, skips the opposing number one, and lays off to the center for van Basten, who does not miss. 2-0 to AC Milan, three safe points. The three-time Ballon d'Or winner will then end the season as the top scorer of the Serie A with 19 goals, while Napoli will celebrate the Scudetto. For AC Milan, the season is still one of those special ones: Marco's goals will drag the Rossoneri to the Champions League Final, beating Benfica (1-0) in Vienna to win their 4^th Champions League title.

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