Milan Derby: History behind iconic Champions League photo

The Milan rivals will meet in the Champions League semi-final for the first time since 2005

The second leg of Carlo Ancelotti's team's quarterfinal matchup against Internazionale took place at the San Siro on April 12. Milan were hopeful that they could repeat their 2-0 victory from the first game.

After all, they were at the time perhaps Europe's top team. Dida, Paolo Maldini, Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Kaka, Clarence Seedorf, Gennaro Gattuso, Andriy Shevchenko, and Hernan Crespo were all gifted athletes who played for Milan.

Whenever two teams from the exact same nation, let alone the same city, compete in Europe, it is usually an important match. Up to the quarterfinal round, local clubs are kept apart. Just a few games remain in the season at that time, and both clubs are brimming with energy and ambition, heightening the intensity of those big European nights.

Additionally, Inter would have done anything to prevent Milan from winning the Scudetto, given they hadn't done so since 1988–89. Milan had won three European Cups, and six Serie A championships, including the most recent one, during that span. Inter was surrounded by their presence.

How derby De La Madonina turned into a violent match in Champions League quarter-final

In the 2005 Champions League quarterfinals, Inter Milan, a nearby rival, faced off against the Rossoneri. Shevchenko and Stam scored both goals for AC Milan in the match's home leg, which saw AC Milan defeat Inter Milan by two goals.

During the 30th minute of the following leg of the match between AC Milan and Inter Milan at the San Siro, Andriy Shevchenko converted to put Milan up 3-0. But after Rossoneri goalkeeper Dida was hit in his back by an explosion hurled by Inter Milan supporters in the 70th minute, the match had to be stopped.

This occurred after Esteban Cambiasso, a defender for Inter, had his goal overturned in the 72nd minute for a push. After Cambiasso received a booking for disrespecting the referee, Inter supporters lost their composure and began hurling flares, glasses and umbrellas onto the ground in protest.

With the police unable to stop the chaos, Merk abandoned the game. "The referee took the right decision," said Milan skipper Maldini. "I was surprised that he tried to restart the game but it was good because so many supporters had paid to watch."

"There were two or three hundred hooligans who were involved in throwing the flares," said the Milan police chief Paolo Scarpi. "They have been caught on video camera. They were the usual hotheads from the Inter sector."

Unsurprisingly, Milan was given a 3-0 victory for the mayhem, earning them a 5-0 overall victory and a spot in the semifinals. UEFA also penalised Inter £132,000 and ordered them to play their remaining six European matches behind closed doors, two of which would be suspended for three years.