1987–88 A.C. Milan season

In 1987 summer, Milan bet on Dutch draft: Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit came to brace the side.[1] Coach role was given to Arrigo Sacchi, at his debut in Serie A.[2][3] Rossoneri soon failed European aims, having - also - play home matches on neutral ground (Lecce) for San Siro disqualification (issued in 1986).[4][5] They were beaten by Espanyol, in second round.[6][7]

A.C. Milan

1987–88 season
Chairman	Silvio Berlusconi
Manager	Arrigo Sacchi
Serie A	1st
Coppa Italia	Round of 16
UEFA Cup	Round of 32
Top goalscorer	League: Paolo Virdis (11) All: Paolo Virdis (15)
Average home league attendance	72,177
Home colours Away colours
All statistics correct as of 15 May 1988.

Domestic league gave better results, with side stable at second place in mid season.[8][9][10] Retour half never saw Milan lose a game, for a trend that let him to recover points on Napoli.[11] Reigning champions wasted a match-ball with 2 matches left, when Milan won 3–2 at their home.[12] Following draws, against Juventus and Como, insured Scudetto.[13] It was the first domestic title since 1979, the eleventh overall.[14]

Squad

Goalkeepers

• Giovanni Galli
• Giulio Nuciari

Defenders

• Franco Baresi
• Walter Bianchi
• Alessandro Costacurta
• Filippo Galli
• Paolo Maldini
• Roberto Mussi
• Mauro Tassotti
• Rufo Emiliano Verga

Midfielders

• Carlo Ancelotti
• Mario Bortolazzi
• Angelo Colombo
• Roberto Donadoni
• Alberigo Evani
• Ruud Gullit

Attackers

• Marco van Basten
• Daniele Massaro
• Pietro Paolo Virdis
• Massimiliano Cappellini
• Graziano Mannari

Serie A

Main article: 1987–88 Serie A

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Milan (C)	30	17	11	2	43	14	+29	45	Qualification to European Cup first round
2	Napoli	30	18	6	6	55	27	+28	42	Qualification to UEFA Cup first round
3	Roma	30	15	8	7	39	26	+13	38
4	Sampdoria	30	13	11	6	41	30	+11	37	Qualification to Cup Winners' Cup first round
5	Internazionale	30	11	10	9	42	35	+7	32	Qualification to UEFA Cup first round

Source: 1987–88 Serie A,RSSSF.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Draw. (Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).[15]
(C) Champion.

Matches

Pisa v Milan

13 September 1987 1	Pisa	1–3	Milan	Pisa
	Cecconi  53'	Report	Donadoni  16' Gullit  73' van Basten  80' (pen.)	Stadium: Arena Garibaldi Attendance: 26,728 Referee: Luigi Agnolin

Milan v Fiorentina

20 September 1987 2	Milan	0–2	Fiorentina	Milan
		Report	Díaz  76' R. Baggio  78'	Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 74,880 Referee: Pietro D'elia

Cesena v Milan

27 September 1987 3	Cesena	0–0	Milan	Cesena
		Report		Stadium: Stadio Dino Manuzzi Attendance: 29,681 Referee: Paolo Bergamo

Milan v Ascoli

4 October 1987 4	Milan	2–0	Ascoli	Milan
	Virdis  35' Evani  82'	Report		Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 74,928 Referee: Pierluigi Pairetto

Sampdoria v Milan

11 October 1987 5	Sampdoria	1–1	Milan	Genoa
	Vialli  53'	Report	Gullit  51'	Stadium: Stadio Luigi Ferraris Attendance: 16,905 Referee: Tullio Lanese

Verona v Milan

25 October 1987 6	Verona	0–1	Milan	Verona
		Report	Virdis  41'	Stadium: Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi Attendance: 44,419 Referee: Rosario Lo Bello

Milan v Torino

1 November 1987 7	Milan	0–0	Torino	Milan
		Report		Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 72,815 Referee: Luigi Agnolin

Pescara v Milan

8 November 1987 8	Pescara	0–2	Milan	Pescara
		Report	Virdis  28' Bortolazzi  86'	Stadium: Stadio Adriatico Attendance: 29,486 Referee: Pierluigi Pairetto

Milan v Avellino

22 November 1987 9	Milan	3–0	Avellino	Milan
	Colombo  6' Donadoni  67' Maldini  74'	Report		Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 68,536 Referee: Werther Cornieti

Empoli v Milan

29 November 1987 10	Empoli	0–0	Milan	Empoli
		Report		Stadium: Stadio Carlo Castellani Attendance: 13,955 Referee: Salvatore Lombardo

Milan v Roma

13 December 1987 11	Milan	0–2 (abd)	Roma	Milan
	Virdis  83' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 70,887 Referee: Pietro D'Elia
Note: The win was awarded to Roma due to a firecracker that hit the Giallorossi's goalkeeper Franco Tancredi at the start of the second half.

Internazionale v Milan

20 December 1987 12	Internazionale	0–1	Milan	Milan
		Report	Ferri  4' (o.g.)	Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 67,545 Referee: Tullio Lanese

Milan v Napoli

3 January 1988 13	Milan	4–1	Napoli	Milan
	Colombo  19' Virdis  24' Gullit  73' Donadoni  78'	Report	Careca  10'	Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 75,519 Referee: Luigi Agnolin

Juventus v Milan

10 January 1988 14	Juventus	0–1	Milan	Turin
		Report	Gullit  62'	Stadium: Stadio Comunale di Torino Attendance: 59,376 Referee: Carlo Longhi

Milan v Como

17 January 1988 15	Milan	5–0	Como	Milan
	Donadoni  30' Virdis  49' Gullit  61', 88' Ancelotti  73'	Report		Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 68,947 Referee: Werther Cornieti

Milan v Pisa

24 January 1988 16	Milan	1–0	Pisa	Milan
	Colombo  27'	Report		Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 70,523 Referee: Pierluigi Pairetto

Fiorentina v Milan

31 January 1988 17	Fiorentina	1–1	Milan	Florence
	Di Chiara  49'	Report	Baresi  74' (pen.)	Stadium: Stadio Comunale (Florence) Attendance: 52,068 Referee: Gianluca Paparesta

Milan v Cesena

7 February 1988 18	Milan	3–0	Cesena	Milan
	Gullit  13' Evani  72' Massaro  83'	Report		Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 68,512 Referee: Luciano Luci

Ascoli v Milan

14 February 1988 19	Ascoli	1–1	Milan	Ascoli Piceno
	Destro  47'	Report	Massaro  66'	Stadium: Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca Attendance: 22,678 Referee: Werther Cornieti

Milan v Sampdoria

28 February 1988 20	Milan	2–1	Sampdoria	Milan
	Virdis  7' Maldini  70'	Report	Bonomi  16' (pen.)	Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 72,568 Referee: Luigi Agnolin

Milan v Verona

6 March 1988 21	Milan	0–0	Verona	Milan
		Report		Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 71,208 Referee: Salvatore Lombardo

Torino v Milan

13 March 1988 22	Torino	1–1	Milan	Turin
	Bresciani  77'	Report	Ancelotti  78'	Stadium: Stadio Comunale di Torino Attendance: 38,857 Referee: Rosario Lo Bello

Milan v Pescara

20 March 1988 23	Milan	2–0	Pescara	Milan
	Massaro  2' Gullit  47'	Report		Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 71,336 Referee: Fabio Baldas

Avellino v Milan

27 March 1988 24	Avellino	0–0	Milan	Avellino
		Report		Stadium: Stadio Partenio Attendance: 39,898 Referee: Carlo Longhi

Milan v Empoli

10 April 1988 25	Milan	1–0	Empoli	Milan
	van Basten  61'	Report		Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 72,763 Referee: Rosario Lo Bello

Roma v Milan

17 April 1988 26	Roma	0–2	Milan	Rome
		Report	Virdis  25' Massaro  85'	Stadium: Stadio Olimpico Attendance: 59,455 Referee: Pierluigi Pairetto

Milan v Internazionale

24 April 1988 27	Milan	2–0	Internazionale	Milan
	Gullit  43' Virdis  53'	Report		Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 75,503 Referee: Carlo Longhi

Napoli v Milan

1 May 1988 28	Napoli	2–3	Milan	Naples
	Maradona  45' Careca  78'	Report	Virdis  36', 68' van Basten  76'	Stadium: Stadio San Paolo Attendance: 82,824 Referee: Rosario Lo Bello

Milan v Juventus

8 May 1988 29	Milan	0–0	Juventus	Milan
		Report		Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 75,505 Referee: Tullio Lanese

Como v Milan

15 May 1988 30	Como	1–1	Milan	Como
	Giunta  46'	Report	Virdis  2'	Stadium: Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia Attendance: 25,036 Referee: Sergio Coppetelli

Statistics

Players statistics

Appearances and goals in domestic league.[16]

F.Galli (30); G.Galli (30/−12); Gullit (29/9); Donadoni (29/4); Tassotti (28); Ancelotti (27/2); Evani (27/2); Baresi (27/1); Massaro (26/4); Colombo (26/3); Maldini (26/2); Virdis (25/11); Bortolazzi (13/1); Van Basten (11/3); Mussi (11); Costacurta (7); Bianchi (3); Verga (3); Cappellini (2); Mannari (1).

Coppa Italia

Main article: 1987–88 Coppa Italia

First round

Milan v Bari

23 August 1987 1	Milan	5-0	Bari	Milano
	Donadoni  3' Virdis  21' van Basten  55' Gullit  57' Massaro  70'			Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 27 962 Referee: Pairetto

Como v Milan

26 August 1987 2	Como	1-2	Milan	Como
	Borgonovo  67'		8' Gullit  36' van Basten	Stadium: Giuseppe Sinigaglia Attendance: 17 000 Referee: Bergamo

Monza v Milan

30 August 1987 3	Monza	0-2	Milan	Milano
			12', 83' van Basten	Stadium: San Siro[17] Attendance: 44 568 Referee: Luci

Milan v Parma

2 September 1987 4	Milan	2-2 (3-4 p)	Parma	Milano
	van Basten  15' Gullit  80'		42' Zannoni  58' (aut.) F. Galli	Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 44 179 Referee: Coppetelli
	Penalties
	van Basten Bortolazzi Donadoni Baresi Ancelotti		Zannoni Carboni Pasa Di Fabio Fiorin

Barletta v Milan

6 September 1987 5	Barletta	1-1 (3-5 p)	Milan	Bari
	Bonaldi  87'		59' Donadoni	Stadium: Stadio della Vittoria[18] Attendance: 10 000 Referee: Baldas
	Penalties
	Di Sarno Cossato Mazzaferro Rovani		van Basten Baresi Ancelotti Colombo Donadoni

Eightfinals

Milan v Ascoli

6 January 1988	Milan	0-1	Ascoli	Milano
			59' Destro	Stadium: San Siro Attendance: 13 808 Referee: Paparesta

Ascoli v Milan

20 January 1988	Ascoli	0-1 (4-2 p)	Milan	Ascoli Piceno
			9' Virdis	Stadium: Cino e Lillo Del Duca Attendance: 14 910 Referee: D'Elia
	Penalties
	Giovannelli Casagrande Greco Benetti Destro		Virdis Bortolazzi Donadoni Baresi

UEFA Cup

Main article: 1987–88 UEFA Cup

First round

Sporting Gijon v Milan

16 September 1987	Sporting Gijon	1-0	Milan	Gijón
	Jaime  69'	Report		Stadium: El Molinon Attendance: 26 000 Referee: Bridges

Milan v Sporting Gijon

30 September 1987	Milan	3-0	Sporting Gijon	Lecce
	Virdis  21' (rig.), 45' (rig.) Gullit  43'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Via del Mare[19] Attendance: 35,488 Referee: Petrović

Second round

Milan v Espanyol

21 October 1987	Milan	0-2	Espanyol	Lecce
		Report	40' Zubillaga  49' Pichi Alonso	Stadium: Stadio Via del Mare[19] Attendance: 29 102 Referee: Syme

Espanyol v Milan

4 November 1987	Espanyol	0-0	Milan	Barcelona
		Report		Stadium: Sarria Attendance: 30 000 Referee: Ponnet

References

1. Fabrizio Bocca (July 1, 1987). "Milan, Juve e Roma sconvolte Hanno già prenotato i migliori". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 23.
2. Gianni Mura (July 3, 1987). "E un giorno Sacchi giocò in difesa". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 45.
3. Gianni Mura (July 28, 1987). "Straordinari per il Milan". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 20.
4. Licia Granello (September 17, 1987). "Il Milan è un gigante smarrito". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 18.
5. Licia Granello (October 1, 1987). "È un Milan preciso". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 20.
6. Licia Granello (October 22, 1987). "Il Milan è già disperato". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 25.
7. Licia Granello (November 5, 1987). "Un Milan senza attacco Una partita senza storia". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 33.
8. Gianni Brera (November 24, 1987). "Caro Napoli, vai troppo forte". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 33.
9. Licia Granello (January 20, 1988). "Il mio calcio è come un look". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 30.
10. Gianni Brera (January 26, 1988). "Ma anche le grandi sentono la fatica". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 24.
11. Massimo Bucchi (March 22, 1988). "E l' algebra decide il campionato". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 22.
12. Licia Granello (May 3, 1988). "Ma non è ancora scudetto". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 34.
13. Gianni Mura (May 17, 1988). "1988, anno del mio calcio". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 23.
14. Gianni Brera (May 17, 1988). "Cari campioni, vi vedo così..." la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 24.
15. "Norme organizzative interne della F.I.G.C. - Art. 51.6" (PDF) (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
16. Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio 1989 (in Italian). Modena: Panini Group. 1988.
17. Stadium chosen due to is more attendance-capacity than Stadio Brianteo: Nino Sormani (31 August 1987), "Primi fischi per il Milan olandese", La Stampa, p. 20
18. Due to no authorized Barletta: Panini, p. 482 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFPanini (help).
19. Due to San Siro was suspended, Milan has played the match in Lecce; cfr. Luca Argentieri (10 July 1987), "Real - Napoli è già finale", la Repubblica, p. 31

Sources

• RSSSF - Italy 1987/88