February 15, 2004 — Bologna vs. AC Milan
The train to Bologna sliced through the northern landscape like a silver whisper. Snow still dotted the countryside, though the sun had begun its slow, reluctant return. Inside the cabin, Luca Bellini stared out the window, his journal resting closed on his thigh.
He hadn't written since Lecce. Not because he had nothing to say, but because the words hadn't come.
Milan was winning. He was starting. The back line — Maldini, Bellini, Nesta, Cafu — had become a fortress. The media no longer called him a surprise. They called him a pillar. But there was a voice growing louder in his mind — not doubt, not arrogance — something else.
Expectation.
—
At the hotel, the team gathered in a conference room before dinner. Ancelotti addressed them with warmth rather than fire.
"Bologna aren't afraid of us," he said. "But that doesn't mean they want war. Keep the ball. Be precise. Let's not make this about nerves."
Gattuso grinned. "But if it is… I'm ready."
Laughter broke the tension. Luca felt it, too. The team had gelled. They weren't just professionals anymore — they were brothers.
That night, Luca sat with Kaká, Pirlo, and Gattuso over a quiet meal. Kaká told stories from São Paulo. Pirlo joked about his failed cooking adventures. Gattuso tried to order dessert in French and accidentally asked for "goat with coffee."
Luca laughed so hard he nearly fell off his chair.
—
Sofia called late. Her voice was calm.
"Don't forget to look around you," she said.
"I'm focused," he replied.
"Too focused?"
"Maybe."
"Then promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Win or lose, write tonight."
He smiled. "Okay."
—
Matchday.
Stadio Renato Dall'Ara was packed. Over 38,000 fans, a sea of red and blue jerseys with a sliver of black and red in the away section. The Bologna ultras sang early. Loud, unrelenting.
Luca stepped onto the pitch, took a deep breath, and looked up at the old, arched tribunes that framed the stadium like history staring back.
Lineups:
AC Milan kept its usual formation: Dida in goal; Maldini, Bellini, Nesta, Cafu in defense; Pirlo holding; Gattuso and Seedorf in midfield; Kaká at the tip of the diamond behind Shevchenko and Inzaghi.
Bologna lined up in a traditional 4-3-1-2: Pagliuca in goal; Zaccardo, Juárez, Gamberini, and Capuano in defense; Colucci, Zagorakis, and Amoroso in midfield; Locatelli supporting Bellucci and Signori up front.
Commentator: "AC Milan are giants, but this stadium has a way of shrinking legends."
—
Minute 1: Bologna pressed. High line. Aggressive.
Minute 4: Cafu's cross was blocked. Counter. Bellucci raced toward the Milan box.
Bellini slid across. Perfect timing. Took the ball, rose, and launched a pass across to Maldini.
Minute 9: Inzaghi almost got through. Gamberini tackled late. No whistle.
Minute 13: Pirlo split the midfield. Kaká turned. Passed to Shevchenko. Shot — off the post.
Gasps.
Minute 16: Bellini cleared a long ball. Spoke quickly to Dida. Organized. Directed.
Minute 19: Bologna free kick. Signori curved it toward the far post.
Bellini jumped.
Headed clear.
Minute 22: Milan corner. Pirlo delivered.
Luca made his run.
He jumped. Met it clean.
Header — just wide.
—
Minute 30: Maldini cut inside, passed to Seedorf, who found Kaká.
The Brazilian faked left, went right.
Shot — saved.
The game was tense, balanced. Luca began pushing the line higher, calling Cafu forward, shifting Nesta to cover.
Minute 38: Bologna surged. Locatelli played a backheel to Bellucci. Open shot.
Bellini read it. Closed space in seconds. Blocked the shot with his thigh.
Dida clapped.
—
Halftime: 0–0.
In the locker room, Ancelotti leaned on the whiteboard.
"They're tiring. Keep the ball moving. We need faster transitions. Luca — you're seeing everything. Don't hesitate to lead."
Bellini nodded. His voice had grown stronger over the months. He wasn't the silent boy from Siena anymore.
—
Second half.
Minute 48: Gattuso tackled Colucci. Seedorf advanced.
Passed to Shevchenko.
GOAL.
1–0 Milan.
The away fans erupted.
Minute 52: Bologna responded quickly. Amoroso skipped past Gattuso. Long-range strike.
Saved by Dida.
Minute 58: Maldini surged forward. Crossed.
Inzaghi flicked it.
GOAL.
2–0.
Now the rhythm was Milan's.
Minute 64: Cafu overlapped. Kaká played him in. Another cross.
Seedorf volley — saved.
Minute 70: substitution — Ambrosini for Seedorf.
Minute 74: Bellini intercepted a poor pass. Instead of booting it, he dribbled forward. Passed to Kaká. Made a rare overlapping run.
Kaká smiled and lobbed the return.
Luca volleyed — blocked.
He laughed, winded.
Minute 79: Bologna corner.
Locatelli delivered. Nesta missed the jump.
Bellucci shot.
Saved by Dida — rebound fell in front of Signori.
Bellini slid in. Blocked.
"WHERE DID HE COME FROM!" the commentator roared.
Minute 82: Pirlo's free kick from 30 meters. Curled toward the top corner.
GOAL.
3–0 Milan.
—
Final minutes.
Milan passed with elegance. Gattuso slowed the pace. Maldini smiled after a clean interception.
Final whistle.
3–0 away win.
The players clapped the away fans. Bellini exchanged shirts with Locatelli.
"Never seen a center-back move like that," the Bologna striker said. "Like you're five seconds ahead of the match."
—
That night, back in Milan, Luca walked along the Navigli with Sofia.
"The game was beautiful," she said.
"I felt free," he replied.
They paused near the bridge. Lights shimmered on the canal's surface.
"Do you ever miss Siena?" she asked.
"Sometimes. But I wouldn't go back."
She nodded.
"I saw you lead today," she said softly.
He didn't reply, but she took his hand, and that was answer enough.
—
Journal entry:
February 15 — Bologna.
They say defenders can't dance. But today, I felt like a conductor.
Each tackle had a rhythm. Each call, a note.
Still no goals for me. But I'm composing something bigger.
Still learning. Still writing.