2003 Champions League Final vs Milan

Lore & Background

The match was the first time two clubs from Italy had faced each other in the final; the second intra-national final of the competition, following the all-Spanish 2000 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Valencia. Milan reached their ninth final and lost only two matches (Dortmund 1–0, and Real Madrid 3–1). In the semi-finals, they met local rivals Inter Milan; both matches finished equal (0–0; 1–1), but Milan advanced on the away goals rule. Previously Milan won finals in 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990 and 1994, and lost in 1958, 1993 and 1995. Juventus reached their seventh final. In the semi-final, Juventus met Real Madrid; they lost the first match (2–1), but they won the second (3–1). Key midfielder Pavel Nedvěd picked up a yellow card in the second leg, for a total of three in the tournament, triggering his suspension for the final. Juventus instead deployed Mauro Camoranesi. Previously Juventus won finals in 1985 and 1996, and lost in 1973, 1983, 1997, 1998. Juventus entered the final as 2002–03 Serie A winners, for the 27th time, and ahead of third placed Milan, as well as 2002 Supercoppa Italiana winners. Milan won the 2002–03 Coppa Italia after defeating Roma in the final.

In Their Own Story

As rain slicked the Manchester pitch and the referee finally signaled the end of extra time, the stadium held its breath in stunned disbelief. The roar of tension exploded only to die down as Alessandro Del Piero stepped up first, his face a mask of steel against the weight of history. The world seemed to shrink to twelve meters of wet grass and the goalkeeper's trembling hands. Then came Trezeguet. His shot didn't sail into the net; it screamed off the upright, the metallic clang cutting through the silence like a verdict. That sound—the ball kissing the post and bouncing away—became the soundtrack of a dream slipping through fingers, leaving Juventus to stare at an empty trophy stand while Milan celebrated their sixth European crown.

Reader's Guide

Refereed by Markus Merk, the final was a tactical match with both teams playing solid defensively. In the 9th minute, Andriy Shevchenko slipped in a back pass from Filippo Inzaghi who scored the goal for Milan, but was ruled offside as Rui Costa was found to obscure Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon's view. Later in the half, Inzaghi created danger with a hard and fast header that Buffon reflexively saved. At the end of the first half, Juventus' Igor Tudor was replaced by Alessandro Birindelli due to injury. In the second half, Juventus coach Marcello Lippi replaced Mauro Camoranesi with Antonio Conte, who later struck the crossbar. Marcelo Zalayeta was the final substitution for Juventus, while Milan subbed on Massimo Ambrosini, Roque Júnior and Serginho; Juventus strengthened the attack, while Milan strengthened the flanks and the midfield. The match ended 0–0 after regulation time. In the 95th minute, Roque Júnior was injured, but Milan having used all substitutions, remained on the pitch, while Juventus lacked attacking conviction and were unable to capitalize. After extra-time, the match remained 0–0 and went to penalty shoot-out. Dida saved Trezeguet's penalty, the first shooter of the penalty takers. After Serginho scored for Milan and Birindelli the subsequent penalty for Juventus, Buffon saved Clarence Seedorf's shot. Zalayeta and Paolo Montero consecutively had their penalties saved by Dida, while Buffon saved Kakha Kaladze's shot. Alessandro Nesta then scored for Milan and Alessandro Del Piero for Juventus, Shevchenko then had the chance to score the decisive penalty, and did; Milan won by a score of 3–2. This gave Milan their sixth European Cup, nine years after their last continental success. Paolo Maldini was named man of the match at the end of the final, and lifted the European Cup as captain of Milan, just as his father Cesare Maldini had done exactly 40 years earlier.

Did You Know?

• The match was the first time two clubs from Italy faced each other in a Champions League final.
• Pavel Nedvěd was suspended for the final due to yellow card accumulation.
• The penalty shoot-out ended 3–2 in favor of Milan, with Dida saving three Juventus penalties.
• Paolo Maldini lifted the European Cup as captain, 40 years after his father Cesare Maldini did the same.