Coppa Italia Frecciarossa

MILAN VS BOLOGNA THE DIVINE PONYTAIL’S DREAM FINAL

The Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Final between AC Milan and Bologna told through Roberto Baggio’s career. His journey from Rossonero to Rossoblù, the highlights and what to look out for on Wednesday night

In the heart of every self-respecting football fan there is room for a select few. A spark, an instant, a stroke of genius and it is done. You fall in love and you don’t look back. In Italy, for many years, that spark had a name: Roberto Baggio. Well how do you go about talking about someone like him? Without social media, without reels, but looking back at videotapes, clinging onto nostalgia and trying to make even the very youngest fans fall in love. The Divine Ponytail was exactly this: an act of class, of mysticism, of incredible talent and thus staying unbiased just became impossible. No flag, only the Italian one, as Baggio was everyone’s heritage. Vicenza to blossom, Fiorentina and Juventus to show the world his class, Inter to join Il Fenomeno Ronaldo, Brescia to close a memorable story under Carletto Mazzone.

AC Milan and Bologna in between. Indeed the two teams that will face off on Wednesday evening in the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Final at the Olimpico in Rome. Both are part of the Divine Ponytail’s destiny, in moments of his career that marked his maturity.

THE SCUDETTO WITH MILAN, BOLOGNA TO GET BACK TO THE TOP

Baggio signed with AC Milan in Summer 1995, leaving Juventus after five seasons as a Bianconero. Strongly wanted by Fabio Capello, he was able to become a key part of a Rossoneri side full of talent and strong characters. He ended the season as a Scudetto winner, and as the top assist-man in the 1995/96 season. In the next campaign, he wasn’t quite so lucky: 11th place in the end and no European football lead to him leaving Milan.

And so, his new adventure began. Roberto Baggio accepted Bologna’s call, with the intention of getting back into the Italy national team ahead of the France 98 World Cup. As a Rossoblù, he got back to his best, with a huge influence in the team. The fans loved him, and he scored 22 goals in the 1997/98 season, setting a personal record for goals in a single season: at the end of his journey, the call from Italy manager Cesare Maldini was a reward for a player who always put his country before anything else.

Those spells were brief, but intense. They were both meaningful and crucial in staying at the very top of world football. Baggio will watch the final at the Olimpico aware of how important his time at Bologna and AC Milan was. He is unique in the way that he is remembered as an artist who, perhaps like no-one else in Italian football, knew how to unite rival fans. He is one of the few well-loved players to have represented Juventus, AC Milan and Inter. Faith doesn’t matter: Roberto Baggio was loved for his way of playing, not the shirt he was wearing.

THE PROFILE OF A TIMELESS CHAMPION. A DIVIDED HEART WITH THE FINAL IN SIGHT.

A born goalscorer (205 goals in total and 7th in the Serie A all-time top-scorers list), a flair player following in the footsteps of Rivera, Mazzola, and Antognoni, a forward destined for greatness, and a clinical free-kick taker. The perfect Baggio biography doesn’t exist. We must simply observe. The plays, the goals, the assists: all pieces of an amazing puzzle.

The Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Final is waiting for it’s “Roberto Baggio”. AC Milan and Bologna have their own stars. Leão’s prowess, Orsolini’s splendid madness, Pulisic and Reijnders’ belters, the rebellious youth of Castro and Domínguez. Altering the past is impossible, but in the history books, there is still space for those brave enough to dare. The fans’ hearts are there to be won once again.

AT THE OLIMPICO WITH THE COPPA ITALIA FRECCIAROSSA

He will be back in the stands on Wednesday evening and he’ll even be getting involved. Perhaps he’s divided, hoping for AC Milan to win or dreaming of seeing Bologna lift a trophy for the first time in many years. His presence in the stadium will no doubt give those on the field an extra push. First, however, it will be the Divine Ponytail’s job to take the trophy onto the pitch. It will certainly be an emotional moment for AC Milan and Bologna fans, but also for Roberto Baggio. It is enough to send shivers down everyone’s spine. (Photo LaPresse + Getty Images)