1978–79 AC Milan season

During the 1978–1979 season, Milan Associazione Calcio competed in Serie A, Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup.

Milan Associazione Calcio
1978–79 season
OwnerFelice Colombo
PresidentFelice Colombo
ManagerNils Liedholm
StadiumSan Siro
Serie A1st
10th title
(in European Cup)
Coppa ItaliaFirst round
UEFA CupRound of 16
Top goalscorerLeague: Bigon (12)
All: Bigon (17)
Average home league attendance48,358[1]

Summary

The summer of 1978 saw the signings of Walter De Vecchi, Walter Novellino and Stefano Chiodi, while Giuseppe Sabadini, Maurizio Turone and Egidio Calloni left Milan after a long spell at the club. The 1978-79 season started with the elimination in the first round of the Coppa Italia, where Milan closed group 4 in second place with five points, thanks to two victories against Lecce and Foggia in the first two days, the defeat against SPAL in the third and the draw in the fourth and final match with Catanzaro, who qualified for the quarter-finals with a 2-point lead over the Rossoneri.

In the league, Milan achieved four wins and a draw in the first five games, taking the lead in the standings with nine points. In the following match, the Rossoneri lost at home to the reigning Italian champions Juventus and left the top of the rankings to Perugia. The Umbrians were joined by the Rossoneri two rounds later and passed on matchday 11; Milan closed the first half of the season at the top of the table, with 25 points with Perugia three lengths behind. In the second half of the season, the dualism with the Umbrian team continued; Milan arrived on the matchday 25 against Perugia with a two-point lead which they maintained thanks to the 1-1 draw. On May 6, 1979, on the penultimate game of the championship, Milan could celebrate the conquest of their long-awaited tenth Scudetto, that of the first stella, thanks to a goalless draw with Bologna. Perugia (runner-up) ended the championship undefeated, first among the Italian teams to succeed in such an achievement (equaled by the Rossoneri who won the Serie A in 1991-1992 and by Juventus in 2011-2012).

In the UEFA Cup the Rossoneri eliminated the Czechoslovaks of Lokomotíva Košice on penalties in the round of 64 (1-0 home win in the first leg and defeat with the same result in the second leg in Košice) and the Bulgarians of Levski Spartak in the round of 32 (1-1 in Sofia and 3-0 in Milan). In the round of 16, Milan faced English side Manchester City who, after a 2-2 draw at San Siro, eliminated the Rossoneri and qualified for the next round thanks to a 3-0 victory at Maine Road.

At the end of the season, captain Gianni Rivera retired from football, after 19 seasons with the club in which he played 658 matches (a record at the time) scoring 164 goals.[2] Nils Liedholm also left Milan to move to Roma, due to contractual disagreements with the management.

One of the most iconic scenes of the season, and of the entire career of Gianni Rivera, occurred on the day of the aforementioned title-winning game against Bologna. The San Siro was undergoing some maintenance work in a section of the second tier, but, before the start of the game, some fans invaded that area, putting themselves and those in the surroundings at risk. The probability was high that, if the situation was not resolved quickly, the sports judge would have forfeited the match with a defeat for Milan. Thus, Rivera took the microphone and improvised a speech to the crowd where he explained the situation and warned about the risk of a forfeited game. The tifosi, trusting their idol, slowly evacuated the area, allowing the match to start regularly, 26 minutes later than scheduled.[3]

Squad

[4] 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 Italy ITA Enrico Albertosi
GK Italy ITA Antonio Rigamonti
DF Italy ITA Franco Baresi
DF Italy ITA Aldo Bet
DF Italy ITA Simone Boldini
DF Italy ITA Fulvio Collovati
DF Italy ITA Aldo Maldera
DF Italy ITA Alberto Minoia
MF Italy ITA Alberto Bigon (vice captain)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Italy ITA Ruben Buriani
MF Italy ITA Fabio Capello
MF Italy ITA Walter De Vecchi
MF Italy ITA Giorgio Morini
MF Italy ITA Walter Novellino
MF Italy ITA Gianni Rivera (captain)
FW Italy ITA Roberto Antonelli
FW Italy ITA Stefano Chiodi
FW Italy ITA Giovanni Sartori

Transfers

Competitions

[5]

Serie A

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Milan (C) 30 17 10 3 46 19 +27 44 Qualification to European Cup
2 Perugia 30 11 19 0 34 16 +18 41 Qualification to UEFA Cup
3 Juventus 30 12 13 5 40 23 +17 37 Qualification to Cup Winners' Cup
4 Internazionale 30 10 16 4 38 24 +14 36 Qualification to UEFA Cup
5 Torino 30 11 14 5 35 23 +12 36
Source: Panini
(C) Champions

Result by round

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
GroundHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHA
ResultWWDWWLWWDDWWWWWLWWDWDDDLDWWWDD
Position111112211111111111111111111111
Source: Competitive matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed;   = Leader, 1979–80 European Cup;   = 1979–80 UEFA Cup

Matches

1 October 1978 1 Milan 1–0 Avellino Milan
Buriani 79' Report Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 42,147
Referee: Mattei
8 October 1978 2 Roma 0–3 Milan Roma
Report 15' Maldera
38' (pen), 61' (pen) Chiodi
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico
Attendance: 69,410
Referee: Agnolin
15 October 1978 3 Milan 0–0 Ascoli Milan
Report Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 45,149
Referee: D'Elia
22 October 1978 4 Atalanta 1–3 Milan Milan
Garritano 31' (pen) Report 3' Maldera
35' (pen), 60' (pen) Chiodi
Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 31,788
Referee: Reggiani
29 October 1978 5 Milan 4–1 Fiorentina Milan
Minoia 5'
Bigon 16', 39', 80'
Report 29' Amenta Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 46,136
Referee: Ciulli
5 November 1978 6 Juventus 1–0 Milan Torino
Bettega 2' Report Stadium: Stadio Comunale
Attendance: 66,377
Referee: D'Elia
12 November 1978 7 Milan 1–0 Inter Milan
Maldera 49' Report Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 65,965
Referee: Michelotti
19 November 1978 8 Lanerossi Vicenza 2–3 Milan Vicenza
Paolo Rossi 45'
Guidetti 89'
Report 8' Maldera
65' Bigon
80' Boldini
Stadium: Stadio Romeo Menti
Attendance: 30,572
Referee: Menicucci
26 November 1978 9 S.S.C. Napoli 1–1 Milan Napoli
Savoldi 4' Report 57' De Vecchi Stadium: Stadio San Paolo
Attendance: 68,185
Referee: Ciulli
3 December 1978 10 Milan 1–1 Perugia Milan
Antonelli 62' Report 3' Vannini Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 44,825
Referee: Longhi
10 December 1978 11 Milan 1–0 Torino Milan
De Vecchi 3' Report Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 37,415
Referee: Menicucci
17 December 1978 12 Hellas Verona 1–3 Milan Verona
Spinozzi 62' Report 54' Novellino
63' Antonelli
73' De Vecchi
Stadium: Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi
Attendance: 30,917
Referee: Reggiani
7 January 1979 13 Milan 4–0 Catanzaro Milan
Chiodi 16'
Bigon 21'
Novellino 76'
Antonelli 81'
Report Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 35,309
Referee: Lo Bello
14 January 1979 14 Bologna 0–1 Milan Bologna
Report 61' Maldera Stadium: Comunale
Attendance: 47,709
Referee: Menegali
21 January 1979 15 Milan 2–0 Lazio Milan
Maldera 16'
Bigon 65'
Report Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 39,090
Referee: Pieri
28 January 1979 16 Avellino 1–0 Milan Avellino
Vincenzo Romano 14' Report Stadium: Stadio Partenio
Attendance: 47,286
Referee: Michelotti
4 February 1979 17 Milan 1–0 Roma Milan
Antonelli 80' (pen) Report Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 46,396
Referee: Milan
11 February 1979 18 Ascoli 0–1 Milan Ascoli Piceno
Report 30' Maldera Stadium: Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca
Attendance: 37,256
Referee: Ciulli
18 February 1979 19 Milan 1–1 Atalanta Milan
Bigon 24' Report 42' Tavola Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 44,532
Referee: Lattanzi
4 March 1979 20 Fiorentina 2–3 Milan Firenze
Lelj 44'
Baresi 65' (o.g.)
Report 5' Maldera
35', 53' Bigon
Stadium: Stadio Comunale
Attendance: 55,140
Referee: Benedetti
11 March 1979 2 Milan 0–0 Juventus Milan
Report Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 65,235
Referee: Michelotti
18 March 1979 22 Inter Milan 2–2 Milan Milan
Oriali 50'
Altobelli 78'
Report 80', 89' De Vecchi Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 64,868
Referee: Agnolin
25 March 1979 23 Milan 0–0 Lanerossi Vicenza Milan
Report Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 43,806
Referee: Longhi
1 April 1979 24 Milan 0–1 Napoli Milan
Report 40' Majo Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 51,311
Referee: Menicucci
8 April 1979 25 Perugia 1–1 Milan Perugia
Casarsa 17' (pen) Report 15' (pen) Chiodi Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi
Attendance: 28,717
Referee: Agnolin
14 April 1979 26 Torino 0–3 Milan Torino
Report 41', 53' Bigon
45' (pen) Chiodi
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino
Attendance: 56,429
Referee: Lattanzi
22 April 1979 27 Milan 2–1 Hellas Verona Milan
Rivera 47'
Novellino 84'
Report 24' Calloni Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 51,247
Referee: Ciulli
29 April 1979 28 Catanzaro 1–3 Milan Catanzaro
Ranieri 52' Report 48' Maldera
58' Novellino
89' Antonelli
Stadium: Stadio Comunale
Attendance: 25,491
Referee: Longhi
6 May 1979 29 Milan 0–0 Bologna Milan
Report Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 65,044
Referee: Menicucci
13 May 1979 30 Lazio 1–1 Milan Roma
Bruno Giordano 32' Report 8' Bigon Stadium: Stadio Olimpico
Attendance: 53,550
Referee: Terpin

Coppa Italia

First round

Group 4

30 August 1978 1 Lecce 2–3 Milan Lecce
Biondi 36'
Magistrelli 69' (pen)
10' Rivera
14', 64' Bigon
Stadium: Comunale
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Vittorio Benedetti
3 September 1978 2 Milan 3–0 Foggia Milan
Maldera 37' (pen), 55'
Chiodi 48'
Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 22,146
Referee: Prati
10 September 1978 3 SPAL 3–1 Milan Ferrara
Pezzato 24', 88'
Gibellini 42'
85' Maldera Stadium: Comunale
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Menegali
17 September 1978 4 Milan 2–2 Catanzaro Milan
Chiodi 19' (pen)
Bet 65'
59' Ranieri
89' (pen) Palanca
Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 34,236
Referee: Agnolin

UEFA Cup

First round

13 September 1978 Milan 1–0 SlovakiaFC Lokomotíva Košice Milan
Novellino 34' Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 34,529
Referee: MaltaCharles Scerri
27 September 1978 SlovakiaFC Lokomotíva Košice 1–0
(6–7 p)
Milan Kosice
Ján Kozák 81' Stadium: Stadion Lokomotiva
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Czech RepublicRenggli
Penalties
Kozák soccer ball with check mark
Ujhely soccer ball with check mark
Jacko soccer ball with red X
Móder soccer ball with check mark
Suchánek soccer ball with check mark
Dobrovič soccer ball with check mark
Fecko soccer ball with check mark
Repík soccer ball with red X
soccer ball with check mark Maldera
soccer ball with red X Novellino
soccer ball with check mark Chiodi
soccer ball with check mark Buriani
soccer ball with check mark Antonelli
soccer ball with check mark Morini
soccer ball with check mark De Vecchi
soccer ball with check mark Baresi

Round of 32

19 October 1978 BulgariaLevski Spartak 1–1 Milan Sofia
Milkov 12' 11' Chiodi Stadium: Georgi Asparuhov
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: AustriaLinemayr
1 November 1978 Milan 3–0 BulgariaLevski Spartak Milan
Maldera 12'
Bigon 40'
Chiodi 75'
Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 24,635
Referee: ScotlandGordon

Eightfinals

23 November 1978 Milan 2–2 EnglandManchester City Milan
Bigon 59', 82' 37' Kidd
57' Power
Stadium: Stadio San Siro
Attendance: 27,102
Referee: East GermanyEinbeck
6 December 1978 EnglandManchester City 3–0 [6] Milan Manchester
Booth 15'
Hartford 31'
Kidd 43'
Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: West GermanyAldinger

Statistics

Squad statistics

Competition[7] Points Home Away Total GD
G W D L Gs Ga G W D L Gs Ga G W D L Gs Ga
1978-79 Serie A441586118515942281430171034619+27
1978-79 Coppa Italia211052210145421197+2
1978-79 UEFA Cup3210623012156222770
Total201181299201055332440211366233+29

Players statistics

No. Pos Nat Player Total1978–79 Serie A1978-79 Coppa Italia1978-79 UEFA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Italy ITA Albertosi 40-3330-194-76-7
DF Italy ITA Collovati 3402702050
DF Italy ITA Baresi 4003004060
DF Italy ITA Bet 2711704160
DF Italy ITA Maldera 40133094361
MF Italy ITA Novellino 4053044061
MF Italy ITA Bigon 341726124243
MF Italy ITA Buriani 3912914060
MF Italy ITA De Vecchi 3752854050
FW Italy ITA Chiodi 33112474252
FW Italy ITA Antonelli 2952153050
GK Italy ITA Rigamonti 10100000
MF Italy ITA Rivera 2221314051
MF Italy ITA Morini 1901402030
DF Italy ITA Boldini 1611410020
MF Italy ITA Capello 110800030
FW Italy ITA Sartori 130704020
DF Italy ITA Minoia 21210000

References

  1. "Attendance Statistics of Serie A". stadiapostcards.com.
  2. "6 maggio 1979". archiviostorico.gazzetta.it (in Italian). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  3. "Il discorso di Rivera". guerinsportivo.it (in Italian). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  4. "ACM Squad". footballsquads.co.uk.
  5. "Milan season 78–79" (PDF).
  6. suspended on 5 December 1978 due to fog: Almanacco illustrato del Milan, 2ª ed.,March 2005 (in Italian), Panini, p. 419.
  7. "Milan Associazione Calcio 1979–80" (PDF). p. 2. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
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