AC Milan v Inter: The story of an iconic image
Ahead of the latest Milan derby, we recount the story behind the fixture's most famous photograph from the 2005 Champions League chaos.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0 / Author: LHC88
Back in April 2005, the San Siro pitch became a stage for one of football’s most enduring images. Photographer Stefano Rellandini captured a moment of quiet reflection amidst a storm: Rui Costa and Marco Materazzi standing side-by-side, watching a hazy wall of red smoke from flares. It was an island of tranquility in a chaotic sea.
"Everyone was focused on the flares, on the smoke," Rellandini recalls. "But near the centre of the pitch I saw a certain moment. Materazzi was nicknamed something like a butcher; he is not really a gentle player. Rui Costa was the opposite - more gentle, more artistic. Materazzi put his elbow on the shoulder of Rui Costa, and I shot it. I have just one frame."
The photo captured the climax of a Champions League quarter-final second leg between AC Milan and Inter Milan, which was abandoned after fans threw objects and flares onto the pitch. One flare struck Milan goalkeeper Dida, leading the referee to eventually halt the proceedings permanently.
At the time, Milan held a three-goal aggregate lead. The atmosphere had turned volatile as frustration boiled over among Inter fans, who felt their team was consistently overshadowed by Milan and Juventus. Following the abandonment, UEFA handed Inter a massive fine and ordered them to play European fixtures behind closed doors, marking a dark chapter for the club's continental aspirations.