AC Milan will be called upon to do something they have done just a few times in their history in the Champions League: recover from a first leg deficit to qualify.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) recalls, the 1955-56 season was the first time Milan achieved a European comeback. It was the Round of 16 against German side Saarbrucken, who won 4-3 at San Siro in the first leg. Milan recovered and won 4-1 in Germany with Liedholm, Schiaffino and Nordahl all starring.
In the European Cup in 1968, Milan lost 2-1 against Malmo in the first leg with Gianni Rivera’s goal giving hope. Back at San Siro, Malmo scored first, but the Diavolo then scored four times in a 4-1 win: two Pierino Prati, one from Angelo Sormani and another from Rivera. The Rossoneri would go on to beat Ajax 4-1 in the final.
Speaking of whom, there was the 2002-03 quarter-final against Ajax. After a 0-0 in the first leg the Amsterdam club were destined to go through with the score at 2-2 in the dying stages at San Siro, until Tomasson buried a late goal to send Milan onwards. A semi-final triumph over Inter and beating Juventus on penalties at Old Trafford would be the reward.
The comeback that sticks out most is 2 May 2007 against Manchester United, who emerged victorious 3-2 at Old Trafford. In the pouring rain of San Siro, Kakà and Clarence Seedorf (and Alberto Gilardino) scored in a 3-0 win dubbed ‘La Partita Perfetta’. Milan would go on to get revenge over Liverpool in the final in Athens.
