1987–88 AC Milan season

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
	← 1986–87 1988–89 →
	All statistics correct as of 15 May 1988.

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]

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

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	ITA	Giovanni Galli
—	GK	ITA	Giulio Nuciari
—	DF	ITA	Franco Baresi
—	DF	ITA	Walter Bianchi
—	DF	ITA	Alessandro Costacurta
—	DF	ITA	Filippo Galli
—	DF	ITA	Paolo Maldini
—	DF	ITA	Roberto Mussi
—	DF	ITA	Mauro Tassotti
—	DF	ITA	Rufo Emiliano Verga
—	MF	ITA	Carlo Ancelotti


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	ITA	Mario Bortolazzi
—	MF	ITA	Angelo Colombo
—	MF	ITA	Roberto Donadoni
—	MF	ITA	Alberigo Evani
—	MF	NED	Ruud Gullit
—	FW	NED	Marco van Basten
—	FW	ITA	Daniele Massaro
—	FW	ITA	Pietro Paolo Virdis
—	FW	ITA	Massimiliano Cappellini
—	FW	ITA	Graziano Mannari

Competitions

Serie A

League table

Pos	Team v t e	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
2	Napoli	30	18	6	6	55	27	+28	42	Qualification to UEFA Cup
3	Roma	30	15	8	7	39	26	+13	38	Qualification to UEFA Cup
4	Sampdoria	30	13	11	6	41	30	+11	37	Qualification to Cup Winners' Cup
5	Internazionale	30	11	10	9	42	35	+7	32	Qualification to UEFA Cup

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.^[15]
(C) Champions

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
Ground	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H
Result	W	L	D	W	D	W	D	W	W	D	L	W	W	W	W	W	D	W	D	W	D	D	W	D	W	W	W	W	D	D
Position	1	6	8	5	5	2	4	3	2	2	4	4	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1

Source: Competitive matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; = 1988–89 European Cup; = 1988–89 UEFA Cup

Matches

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coppa Italia

First round

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

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

30 August 1987 3	Monza	0-2	Milan	Milano
			12', 83' van Basten	Stadium: San Siro^[16] Attendance: 44 568 Referee: Luci

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

6 September 1987 5	Barletta	1-1 (3-5 p)	Milan	Bari
	Bonaldi 87'		59' Donadoni	Stadium: Stadio della Vittoria^[17] Attendance: 10 000 Referee: Baldas
	Penalties
	Di Sarno Cossato Mazzaferro Rovani		van Basten Baresi Ancelotti Colombo Donadoni

Eightfinals

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

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

First round

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

30 September 1987	Milan	3-0	Sporting Gijon	Lecce
	Virdis 21' (rig.), 45' (rig.) Gullit 43'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Via del Mare^[18] Attendance: 35,488 Referee: Petrović

Second round

21 October 1987	Milan	0-2	Espanyol	Lecce
		Report	40' Zubillaga 49' Pichi Alonso	Stadium: Stadio Via del Mare^[18] Attendance: 29 102 Referee: Syme

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

Statistics

Players statistics

Appearances and goals in domestic league.^[19]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Serie A
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ITA	Giovanni Galli	30	-12	30	-12
	DF	ITA	Mauro Tassotti	28	0	28	0
	DF	ITA	Filippo Galli	30	0	30	0
	DF	ITA	Franco Baresi	27	1	27	1
	DF	ITA	Paolo Maldini	26	2	26	2
	MF	ITA	Roberto Donadoni	29	4	29	4
	MF	ITA	Carlo Ancelotti	27	2	27	2
	MF	ITA	Angelo Colombo	26	3	26	3
	MF	ITA	Alberigo Evani	27	2	27	2
	MF	NED	Ruud Gullit	29	9	29	9
	FW	NED	Marco van Basten	11	3	11	3
	GK	ITA	Giulio Nuciari	0	0	0	0
	DF	ITA	Walter Bianchi	3	0	3	0
	DF	ITA	Alessandro Costacurta	7	0	7	0
	DF	ITA	Roberto Mussi	11	0	11	0
	DF	ITA	Rufo Emiliano Verga	3	0	3	0
	MF	ITA	Mario Bortolazzi	13	1	13	1
	FW	ITA	Daniele Massaro	26	4	26	4
	FW	ITA	Pietro Paolo Virdis	25	11	25	11
	FW	ITA	Massimiliano Cappellini	2	0	2	0
	FW	ITA	Graziano Mannari	1	0	1	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

References

^ Fabrizio Bocca (July 1, 1987). "Milan, Juve e Roma sconvolte Hanno già prenotato i migliori". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 23.
^ Gianni Mura (July 3, 1987). "E un giorno Sacchi giocò in difesa". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 45.
^ Gianni Mura (July 28, 1987). "Straordinari per il Milan". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 20.
^ Licia Granello (September 17, 1987). "Il Milan è un gigante smarrito". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 18.
^ Licia Granello (October 1, 1987). "È un Milan preciso". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 20.
^ Licia Granello (October 22, 1987). "Il Milan è già disperato". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 25.
^ Licia Granello (November 5, 1987). "Un Milan senza attacco Una partita senza storia". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 33.
^ Gianni Brera (November 24, 1987). "Caro Napoli, vai troppo forte". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 33.
^ Licia Granello (January 20, 1988). "Il mio calcio è come un look". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 30.
^ Gianni Brera (January 26, 1988). "Ma anche le grandi sentono la fatica". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 24.
^ Massimo Bucchi (March 22, 1988). "E l' algebra decide il campionato". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 22.
^ Licia Granello (May 3, 1988). "Ma non è ancora scudetto". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 34.
^ Gianni Mura (May 17, 1988). "1988, anno del mio calcio". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 23.
^ Gianni Brera (May 17, 1988). "Cari campioni, vi vedo così..." la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 24.
^ "Norme organizzative interne della F.I.G.C. - Art. 51.6" (PDF) (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
^ 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
^ Due to no authorized Barletta: Panini, p. 482.
^ ^a ^b 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
^ Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio 1989 (in Italian). Modena: Panini Group. 1988.

Sources

RSSSF - Italy 1987/88

[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] 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

[17] Due to no authorized Barletta: Panini, p. 482.

[squalifica-18] 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

[19] Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio 1989 (in Italian). Modena: Panini Group. 1988.

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