There is frantic anticipation for the return of this Europa League quarter-final. The 0-1 score in the first leg cannot be decisive, therefore we start with a fair balance in front of a full Olimpico and 4,500 AC Milan fans. The sporting crossroads is encouraged by the rivalry and the confrontation in the stands will inevitably mark a fundamental step in the season of both fans. When I arrive around the Olympic stadium the deployment of law enforcement is larger than usual, derby style, while on the Lungotevere the usual magazine of bombs, smoke bombs and chants takes place. “Seasoned”, this time, also by some thematic banners displayed by the Roma ultras against their Milanese rivals and in particular in response to the fanzine distributed by the Rossoneri on the occasion of the first leg, where in a not so veiled manner an old banner of the Rossoneri was revived The pit with clear reference to the De Falchi affair. A dialectic, that between the two factions, which has always maintained a high tone, systematically rekindling the rivalry. Without wanting to moralize anyone – considering the tribal and often “rude” nature of these two squares – as an external observer all this always provides some additional stimulus, fundamentally because it is understood that in the face of an ultras world that nowadays – understandably – they often form a coalition even where there are major enmities, the two parties involved are light years apart and live totally opposite worlds and mindsets. Of course, the history of the rivalry between Roma supporters and AC Milan supporters has made this ideological “distance” almost obvious, as has the development of their respective being ultras in the last twenty years.
The European version of the Olimpico is always different from the one that hosts Roma’s championship matches every two weeks. More charged and determined. The dream/nightmare of the cup now openly pervades the hearts and souls of the Capitoline fans, who would probably give much more than just their voice during the ninety minutes to have the coveted title in exchange. The disappointment of Budapest, rather than definitively weakening the desire, contributed to making it grow. Someone has become a prisoner of it, while someone else knows well that the history of a club, its traditions and cabal do not change so easily, even if in recent years the Giallorossi have performed well on the international stage. Then on the other side there is a company that, despite never having had any luck in this event, in Europe has written pages of history that have remained indelible in the eyes of millions of sportsmen, arriving to this day as the most victorious Italian team in the Champions League and, in all likelihood, also the one in possession of the greatest experience and caliber in this type of challenge. And in all likelihood the followers of Devileven before Pioli’s guidance and purely sporting performances, today they rely on experience.
I decide to enter just before the kick-off whistle, to avoid the usual rubbish of music, shouts and raucous screams of the speaker and enjoy, as far as possible, only the spectacle offered by the stands. The AC Milan ultras – as usual – color the lower part of their sector with many banners, which will be lowered at the kick-off to allow the waving of a couple of flags and the prominence of the house specialty: total black. On the other hand, invectives against the guests begin from various sectors of the stadium, while the South is intent on completing the preparations for the display of the scenography. It is always nice to see parts of the stadium that are not strictly ultras colored with flags and, in some cases, even well-made banners. I think the spontaneity and genuineness outside the stands occupied by the ultras are the big difference between the Viale dei Gladiatori stadium and San Siro, where a more calm type of fan reigns in the stands and is less dedicated to letting go, even in rude way. Without prejudice – and anyone who has read the piece on the first leg knows this – that for me the Meazza remains a magnificent and perfect facility for football, where the shouts and chants of the fans reach the pitch perfectly and the support is something sacral. In the face of those who would like to tear him down. What changes, as mentioned, is the composition of the average fan. Something that undoubtedly reflects the nature of the two metropolises. also sinking a little into the respective stereotypes by which they are generally known within national borders.
Just before 9pm the teams enter the pitch, placing themselves in the center for the playing of the Europa League anthem, loudly booed by the Roman public. If on the one hand I don’t like an attitude that sometimes tends towards excessive whining or conspiracy-mongering, on the other I must admit that booing everything that is institutional (the same thing happens with the Serie A anthem) reflects a certain idiosyncrasy towards the “established order”, at least mentally. A sign of vitality that certainly does no harm to a football now totally subservient to television and antics useful to collect a few more Euros. But also the confirmation of how the football bodies appear to be nothing short of anachronistic and not very credible in the eyes of the fans themselves, who are the ones who run the show, despite the fact that they are often treated like the last wheel of the cart. When the speaker sprays the notes of Roma, Rome, Rome, in the South the scenography takes shape, which through the display of thousands of cards spells out the name of Antonio De Falchi, receiving applause from the entire stadium. If the spectacle of the Romanist curve is top-notch, the same must be said for the “old-fashioned” ones shown in the Tiber and by the group in the North: torches, smoke bombs and flags. Immortal elements that complete the work and make the glance important. The pyrotechnic rebound between the guest sector and the Curva Nord is beautiful and always “engaging”, as is the yellow-red scarf with the writing Rome Shit which is constantly shown by a Rossoneri fan. This is to remind the lords of morality and those of bon-ton how they are the only ones who formalize certain attitudes. Those who frequent the stadium regularly not only like teasing, insults and “tension”, but make the ninety minutes unique and unrepeatable.
The start of the match was traumatic for Milan: in about twenty minutes, in fact, Roma took a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Mancini and Dybala. Goals that literally make the stadium explode, with significant celebrations even in the stands and in the more “quiet” areas. It is often said that the result doesn’t matter, and this is certainly true from a faith and attachment point of view. But, without beating around the bush too much, there are cases in which the victory is too important and heartfelt to be experienced as a normal match. Milan is stunned, although the Goddess Eupalla you try to provide him with assists on more than one occasion to reopen the contest. Starting from the naive expulsion with which Celik left the Giallorossi with ten men for over an hour of the match. It begins to pour and the home crowd, rather than being discouraged, understands that it is time to make their support felt. “Roaring” and shouting at every danger and in every action. There would be opportunities to reopen the match, but in the end Milan only managed to score in the final minutes, with Gabbia. A 2-1 that will be useless, so much so that i supporters the guests – despite the immediately uphill match they tried to support in a united way at least until the 75th minute – will not even rejoice, being already in a climate of protest towards a team which, having exited the Europa League, finds itself at the end of the season without any objective. And with the specter of seeing the Inter cousins celebrate their twentieth championship a few days later, in the derby.
It ends, obviously, with the Olimpico rejoicing to the tune of Thanks Rome, for reaching the fourth European semi-final in the last five years. It’s not a goal or a victory, but for a club mostly accustomed to football mediocrity, it’s undoubtedly something important. Something that fuels the dream and imprisonment mentioned above. Leverkusen will be there, in the remake of last year’s semi-final, although no one seems to want to let it go to their heads, aware of how difficult it is to overcome what is currently the German champion team, unbeaten since last year, moreover since the match in Rome, when a goal from Bove decided the match and qualification. The drops thrown by Jupiter Pluvius continue to fall, but also for the crowd moving towards cars and vehicles, it is a gentle rain. Which perhaps isn’t even fully perceived due to the adrenaline. Moving away, from the outside, I can still hear the boys with the megaphone encouraging the few remaining to the final clapping. Ultimately, there remains that way of experiencing football without “claims to win” but with the mandatory request to be able to dream. Because when you are not a renowned club or accustomed to performing at a certain level, being able to cultivate hope – even if it is then painfully dashed – is perhaps the greatest stimulus needed to move forward and unite the entire fan base.
Simone Meloni
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