February 22, 2004 — Reggina vs. AC Milan
Southern Italy welcomed the league leaders with a sky the color of pewter and a mist that clung to the hills above Reggio Calabria. The Stadio Oreste Granillo sat like a stubborn old fortress by the sea — small, loud, and unforgiving. Luca Bellini stepped off the team bus into a wall of noise and hostility.
This wasn't Bologna.
Reggina were fighting for survival. And they had no interest in showing Milan respect.
Carlo Ancelotti's tone in the locker room reflected that. "This will be ugly. It always is here. Don't expect space. Don't expect silence."
He turned to Maldini and Bellini. "You'll be tested — aerials, corners, fouls. Stay composed."
Luca nodded. He'd faced smaller stadiums in Serie B. But something about Granillo made him feel like a villain walking into a myth.
—
Lineups:
AC Milan rotated slightly: Dida in goal; Maldini, Bellini, Nesta, and Pancaro at the back; Pirlo sat in front of the defense, flanked by Gattuso and Ambrosini; Rui Costa replaced Seedorf in midfield; Kaká remained behind Shevchenko and Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Reggina lined up in a narrow 4-4-2 diamond: Belardi in goal; Cirillo, Vargas, Franceschini, and Mesto in defense; midfield of Mozart, Tedesco, and Baiocco; Nakamura at the tip; with Dionigi and Cozza up front.
Commentator: "Milan may lead the table, but this pitch doesn't care."
—
Kickoff.
Minute 3: Reggina pressed with fury. Baiocco fouled Ambrosini. No card.
Minute 6: Pancaro launched a long ball. Tomasson brought it down, passed to Kaká. Shot — wide.
Minute 10: Reggina corner. Nakamura curled it in. Chaos in the box.
Bellini jumped. Headed clear. Landed awkwardly, but bounced up.
Minute 13: Dionigi spun around Nesta. Shot low. Saved by Dida.
Minute 15: Gattuso fouled by Mozart. Tensions rising.
Minute 18: Kaká played in Shevchenko. Franceschini cleared. Barely.
Minute 22: Maldini surged forward. Found Rui Costa. Pass to Tomasson. Shot blocked.
—
Minute 29: Reggina countered. Cozza slipped past Pancaro.
Bellini covered the run.
Slide tackle — clean. The home fans roared with anger.
Ref waved play on.
Luca ignored them.
Minute 34: Rui Costa cut inside, curled a shot — hit the post.
Minute 39: Another Reggina corner.
Nakamura curled it deep.
Bellini and Nesta rose together. Nesta nodded it down.
Ball dropped to Dionigi.
Shot — deflected.
GOAL.
1–0 Reggina.
The stadium exploded.
Luca didn't flinch. He picked up the ball, handed it to Dida, and shouted to midfield.
"We're not chasing. We're building."
—
Halftime.
Ancelotti's jaw was tight. "They want a scrap. Don't give them one. Play faster. Use the width. Rui, stay higher. Luca, if you see the lane, take it."
The players nodded. There was no panic — but the silence had weight.
—
Second half.
Minute 49: Gattuso to Pirlo. Long ball to Kaká. He danced inside. Shot — saved.
Minute 52: Shevchenko chipped it wide to Pancaro. Crossed in.
Tomasson volleyed — blocked.
Minute 55: Bellini stepped forward with the ball. Broke a line. Passed to Rui Costa.
Backheel to Kaká.
He turned.
Shot.
GOAL.
1–1.
Relief washed through the away bench.
Minute 59: Reggina upped the tempo. Tedesco fouled Pirlo. No yellow.
Minute 63: Baiocco fired from range.
Blocked by Bellini's rib cage.
He gasped, stood up, nodded to Nesta.
"Still breathing."
—
Minute 68: substitution — Inzaghi for Tomasson. Seedorf for Ambrosini.
Milan now attacked relentlessly.
Minute 72: Rui Costa chipped into the box. Inzaghi ran in. Shot — saved. Rebound — cleared.
Minute 75: Pirlo to Kaká. To Seedorf. Cut inside. Shot.
GOAL.
2–1 Milan.
The Milan bench leapt.
Minute 79: Reggina attacked. Nakamura fired from 25 yards.
Saved by Dida.
Minute 84: Dionigi found space. Crossed.
Bellini tracked Cozza.
Jumped. Headed out.
Minute 87: Pancaro fouled Mesto. Dangerous free kick.
Nakamura curled it.
Bellini dove sideways.
Blocked with his shoulder.
The ball rebounded — cleared by Maldini.
Minute 90: Bellini cleared a desperate long ball.
Final whistle.
2–1 Milan.
—
In the dressing room, the atmosphere was subdued. Tired.
Ancelotti clapped once. "You earned that. It wasn't pretty — but it counts the same."
Luca leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes.
Gattuso threw an arm over his shoulder. "Still breathing?"
"Barely."
They laughed.
—
That night, Sofia called.
"You were quieter today."
"I was thinking."
"About what?"
"About how every game asks a different question. And I don't always know the answer until after."
She was silent for a moment.
"Maybe the questions matter more than the answers," she said.
—
Journal entry:
February 22 — Reggina.
Some battles are won in silence. Some in noise. Today was both.
I didn't score. I didn't shine.
But I stood.
And sometimes, that's enough.