Ranking AC Milan's most iconic moments at San Siro

Taking a look at some of the historic moments from Rossoneri's glorious past at the San Siro, which is stipulated to be broken down at the end of season

Ahead of the huge clash between the giants of Italian Football, the Derby Della Madonnina presents us an opportunity to revisit some of AC Milan's most iconic moments at the famed San Siro Stadium, shared by both of these iconic Milanese clubs. The combined history of AC Milan & Inter at the San Siro or known as Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, by the Inter faithful after their legendary player, has been a cathedral of football history.

However, the Rossoneri slightly boast a slight advantage in terms of a European head-to-head over Inter (2W,2D), and are unbeaten against the city rivals. Here's taking a look at some of the famous San Siro moments in AC Milan's history, on the eve of a meeting against their city rivals in the UCL semi-finals after 20 years.

5. Filippo Inzaghi and several legends get an emotional farewell (AC Milan 2 -1 Novarra, 2011-12, Serie A)

Filippo Inzaghi's Milan career spanning from 2001 - 2012, ended with 126 goals in 300 matches. He cemented his legacy as the greatest modern-day striker in Milan's history after Marco Van Basten. A man popular for scoring the most crucial of goals at the most important moments for AC Milan, and ended up winning two UEFA Champions League titles (2003, 2007), and three Serie A titles (1998, 2004, 2011), including a famous winner against Liverpool in the UCL final in 2007.

However, like all good things, AC Milan's golden generation came to an end in 2012, as several other club legends such as Gianluca Zambrotta, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf all ended their careers in the famous colours of the Rossoneri.

However, it was the trademark instinctive run behind the defense, and ended up scoring in his final appearance against lowly Novara. The emotions flowed and tears right across the pitch as well as in the stands with fans rising in applause to appreciate the true ending of a great era for AC Milan, and another iconic chapter added to the San Siro folklore for the Rossoneri.

4. Andre Shevchenko goal vs Inter (AC Milan 1 - 1 Inter Milan, 2002-03 UCL Semi-final)

Andre Shevchenko had a majestic career at AC Milan and his moments of glory as well as downfalls are well documented. However, en route to AC Milan's Champions League triumph, Shevchenko produced the moment of magic needed to decide the closely contested semi-final tie, where two elite tactical teams canceled each other out for nearly 180 minutes. After the first leg ended with a scoreline of 0-0, AC Milan would be an 'away' team on the night at the San Siro.

At the stroke of half-time, Andriy Shevchenko latched on to a through-ball from Clarence Seedorf, who skillfully evaded his marker with exquisite close control and fed a through ball in the Inter box towards the Ukranian. However, Inter's Cordoba was tightly marking him, and Shevcheko with a brilliant touch of his left foot cut in to completely take out his opponent, and lofted in the goal with Inter's onrushing goalkeeper Cordoba's legs near him.

Despite substitute Obafemi Martins's brilliant individual solo goal in the 90th minute, Milan went through on away goals rule, to face Juventus in an all-Italian final, which they ended up winning. However, the celebration from Shevchenko and what that goal meant in the larger scheme of things became forever an iconic moment at the San Siro.

3. Marco Van Basten's becomes the first player in UCL history to score four goals in a match (AC Milan 4 - 0 IFK Goteborg,1992-93 UCL group stage)

In the 1992-93 season, Marco Van Basten created European, Milan as well as San Siro history, when he produced one of the greatest individual goal-scoring performances ever seen at the iconic stadium. He became the first man to score four times in the Champions League when AC Milan demolished Swedish side Goteborg in 1992.

His best and most memorable goal was the third one, which was an audacious overhead kick, which rifled into the bottom left corner of the goalkeeper. It's still remembered to this day as one of the most iconic European nights in AC Milan's glorious history at the San Siro, where the three-time Ballon d'Or winner became a myth. However, it was the last pure moment of joy for the Milan fans as he received a career-ending ankle injury later that year, and their club also ended as runners-up in the Champions League final.

2. Kaka's goal erupts the San Siro into joyous frenzy! (AC Milan 3-0 Man Utd, 2006-07 UCL Semi-final 2nd leg)

This game had multiple storylines building up to the second-leg match-up between two European greats in AC Milan and Manchester United. The Carlo Ancelotti-led Rossoneri side was returning to the San Siro with a 3-2 deficit, after losing in the first leg at Old Trafford. The Manchester United team boasting the likes of a young Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, and Ryan Giggs was a stern test for any team, whose objective was to reach the Champions League final.

From United and Sir Alex Ferguson's perspective, it was a huge opportunity to get a result away at the famous San Siro, & set up an epic and first, all-English final against bitter rivals Liverpool, in Athens. Brimming with confidence from the first-leg lead, United realized that the dream of setting up a dream final would be a behemoth task, with the likes of Kaka, Seedorf, and Maldini playing to the absolute peak of their abilities.

So it unfolded, as the Brazilian Kaka, who'd already broken United hearts from the first leg with the most spectacular brace imaginable, opened the scoring in the 11th minute to put Milan ahead, & tying up the score in aggregate. What followed was a celebration and roar at the San Siro unlike ever heard before as the crowd shouted in joy at the virtual coronation of the best player in the world scoring for their team, followed by a trademark celebration thanking the almighty above and almighty heavens downpouring with heavy rain.

The night became even more epic with Milan's second goal, as Clarence Seedorf pulled an individual goal for the ages and gave Milan the aggregate lead. Substitute Gilardino came on and put the icing on the cake with the third goal, after being put through on goal, and Milan went on to win their seventh UCL beating Liverpool in the final.

1. Iconic moment of Materazzi and Rui Costa standing besides each other and admiring the fireworks at the San Siro (AC Milan 3 - 0 Inter Milan, 2004-05, UCL quarter-final 2nd leg)

The most memorable and iconic imagery at the San Siro and widely in circulation in the consciousness of football fans are the stills from this game. The match was memorable for more reasons than one and is now etched in history as a reflection of the passion involved in the Derby Della Madonnina, which also involved an unfortunate and ugly ending.

With a 2-0 advantage from the first-leg win, Milan came into this match full of confidence, but with an expectation of a tough battle in the 'away' tie. What unfolded was an exciting game of football up until the 72 minutes, with Milan leading 1-0 through a Shevchenko thunderbolt opener in the 30th minute.

The Inter faithful from the stands were extremely upset at the fateful 72nd minute where Estaban Cambiasso had scored the equalizer but was later adjudged to be ruled out due to foul play. He was booked following vehement protests and the Nerazzuri fans took matters literally into their own hands and started throwing umbrellas, bottles, and flares! from the stands, showing their anger and dissatisfaction.

The game was forced to be abandoned after a flare struck Milan keeper Dida. Following the charter and rules, UEFA awarded Milan a 3–0 win and a 5-0 win in aggregate. Inter also ended up playing their next four European games behind closed doors, without their fans, as punishment.

However, the moment became forever iconic for the images from the match with Materazzi and Rui Costa standing in bewilderment, as they saw firemen on the San Siro pitch trying to put out the flares thrown from the stands!