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During the 1978–1979 season, Milan Associazione Calcio competed in Serie A, Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup.
| 1978–79 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Felice Colombo | ||
| President | Felice Colombo | ||
| Manager | Nils Liedholm | ||
| Stadium | San Siro | ||
| Serie A | 1st 10th title  (in European Cup) | ||
| Coppa Italia | First round | ||
| UEFA Cup | Round of 16 | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Bigon (12) All: Bigon (17) | ||
| Average home league attendance | 48,358[1] | ||
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| |||
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]
[4] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Transfers
| In | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| MF | Walter De Vecchi | Monza | |
| MF | Walter Novellino | Perugia | |
| FW | Stefano Chiodi | Bologna | |
| Out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | To | Type |
| DF | Giuseppe Sabadini | Catanzaro | |
| DF | Maurizio Turone | Catanzaro | |
| FW | Egidio Calloni | Hellas Verona | |
| FW | Luciano Gaudino | A.S. Bari | |
| FW | Ugo Tosetto | Avellino | |
| FW | Sergio Valentinuzzi | Savona | |
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
(C) Champions
Result 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 | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A |
| Result | W | W | D | W | W | L | W | W | D | D | W | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | D | W | D | D | D | L | D | W | W | W | D | D |
| Position | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Source: Competitive matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed; = Leader, 1979–80 European Cup; = 1979–80 UEFA Cup
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 |
UEFA Cup
First round
| 13 September 1978 | Milan | 1–0 |  FC Lokomotíva Košice | Milan |
| Novellino 34' |
Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 34,529 Referee:  Charles Scerri |
Round of 32
| 19 October 1978 |  Levski Spartak | 1–1 | Milan | Sofia |
| Milkov 12' |
11' Chiodi |
Stadium: Georgi Asparuhov Attendance: 55,000 Referee:  Linemayr |
| 1 November 1978 | Milan | 3–0 | Levski Spartak | Milan |
| Maldera 12' Bigon 40'Chiodi 75' |
Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 24,635 Referee:  Gordon |
Eightfinals
| 23 November 1978 | Milan | 2–2 |  Manchester City | Milan |
| Bigon 59', 82' |
37' Kidd 57' Power |
Stadium: Stadio San Siro Attendance: 27,102 Referee:  Einbeck |
| 6 December 1978 | Manchester City | 3–0 [6] | Milan | Manchester |
| Booth 15' Hartford 31'Kidd 43' |
Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 50,000 Referee:  Aldinger |
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 A | 44 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 18 | 5 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 14 | 30 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 46 | 19 | +27 |
| 1978-79 Coppa Italia | – | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 |
| 1978-79 UEFA Cup | – | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Total | – | 20 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 29 | 9 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 24 | 40 | 21 | 13 | 6 | 62 | 33 | +29 |
Players statistics
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | 1978–79 Serie A | 1978-79 Coppa Italia | 1978-79 UEFA Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK |  ITA |
Albertosi | 40 | -33 | 30 | -19 | 4 | -7 | 6 | -7 | |
| DF | ITA |
Collovati | 34 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| DF | ITA |
Baresi | 40 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| DF | ITA |
Bet | 27 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | |
| DF | ITA |
Maldera | 40 | 13 | 30 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 1 | |
| MF | ITA |
Novellino | 40 | 5 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| MF | ITA |
Bigon | 34 | 17 | 26 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | |
| MF | ITA |
Buriani | 39 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| MF | ITA |
De Vecchi | 37 | 5 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| FW | ITA |
Chiodi | 33 | 11 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | |
| FW | ITA |
Antonelli | 29 | 5 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| GK | ITA |
Rigamonti | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ITA |
Rivera | 22 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| MF | ITA |
Morini | 19 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| DF | ITA |
Boldini | 16 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| MF | ITA |
Capello | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| FW | ITA |
Sartori | 13 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| DF | ITA |
Minoia | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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