February 29, 2004 — AC Milan vs. Parma
The final day of February came cloaked in soft Milanese rain. Droplets danced across the pavement like dancers stretching before the music. For Luca Bellini, this Sunday carried an odd mixture of adrenaline and warmth.
Parma weren't just any opponent. They were dangerous, fast on the counter, and precise in midfield. And they knew San Siro like distant cousins at a family reunion — enough familiarity to not feel out of place.
But that wasn't what made Luca nervous.
Sofia was coming.
She hadn't visited San Siro this season. She usually watched on television, or listened with her father back home while finishing coursework or hospital shifts. But today, she was there. In the stands. Wearing his number, hidden under a brown coat.
He didn't know exactly where she was seated. But he would play as if she was everywhere.
—
In the locker room, Maldini adjusted his armband.
"We keep the pace. Parma want to frustrate us. We don't give them time to settle."
Bellini glanced at the whiteboard. Names and arrows. But his focus flickered briefly to the clock.
Then Kaká clapped him on the back.
"Big day?"
Luca nodded.
"I heard someone special's in the stands," Kaká teased.
He smirked. "Maybe."
Pirlo leaned in. "Then maybe you should give her a reason to stand up."
—
Lineups:
AC Milan stuck to their strong core: Dida; Maldini, Bellini, Nesta, Cafu; Pirlo, Gattuso, Seedorf; Kaká; Shevchenko and Inzaghi.
Parma countered with Frey in goal; Bonera, Ferrari, Cannavaro, and Junior in defense; midfield held by Marchionni, Barone, and Bresciano; with Gilardino and Adriano forming a deadly duo up front.
Commentator: "This isn't just a test of Milan's defense — it's a test of their heart."
—
Kickoff.
Minute 2: Parma pressed high. Barone stole the ball from Seedorf. Gilardino fired — wide.
Minute 5: Maldini played it up the line. Cafu broke forward. Crossed.
Inzaghi's header — saved.
Minute 8: Pirlo looped a diagonal to Shevchenko. Flicked it over Cannavaro. Shot — over the bar.
Minute 11: Adriano surged forward. Passed to Bresciano.
Bellini read the run. Closed down. Blocked the shot with his chest.
He stayed down for a moment, winded. But then he rose.
Applause from the Curva Sud.
Minute 16: Kaká dribbled through midfield. Seedorf overlapped. Crossed low.
Inzaghi missed.
Shevchenko — GOAL.
1–0 Milan.
The roar of San Siro echoed through the rooftops.
—
Minute 21: Parma responded quickly. Gilardino and Adriano combined. Adriano twisted past Nesta.
Shot — Dida parried.
Bellini cleared the rebound.
Minute 26: Parma free kick. Junior delivered a dangerous ball. Bellini marked Gilardino tightly.
Jumped. Cleared.
He turned to Nesta and pointed.
"Switch on."
—
Minute 33: Pirlo slid a through ball. Kaká chased. Slipped past Ferrari.
Chipped cross.
Inzaghi — GOAL.
2–0 Milan.
—
Minute 38: Barone fouled Gattuso hard. Tension.
Minute 42: Adriano powered forward again. Nesta stumbled.
Bellini stepped across. Tackle. Clean.
Kaká sprinted forward with the ball. Gave it to Shevchenko.
Back to Kaká. Shot — just wide.
—
Halftime.
San Siro hummed. In the tunnel, Luca wiped rain from his forehead. He looked up at the stands, scanning.
Somewhere, Sofia was watching.
—
Second half.
Minute 48: Marchionni danced down the flank. Crossed.
Adriano met it.
GOAL.
2–1.
Parma were back in it.
Minute 51: Milan slowed play. Pirlo spread it wide to Cafu.
Crossed low. Cleared.
Minute 56: Adriano again. Powerful run. Faced Bellini.
Fake. Step. Power.
Bellini didn't bite. Stayed tight. Blocked again.
This time, he yelled.
"ENOUGH!"
The crowd cheered louder.
Minute 61: Seedorf to Kaká. He danced through the middle.
Fouled. Free kick.
Pirlo curled it in.
Luca rose — head met leather.
GOAL.
3–1 Milan.
His first in Serie A.
( The goal from Chapter thirty was in the Coppa Italia)
He stood, arms open.
Looked into the stands.
Somewhere, she was clapping.
He felt it.
—
Minute 65: substitution — Ambrosini for Gattuso. Tomasson for Inzaghi.
Minute 70: Bellini started a sequence from deep. Passed to Cafu. Into Seedorf. To Kaká. To Tomasson.
Shot — saved.
Milan in full control.
Minute 78: Parma threw everything forward.
Gilardino again. Beat Nesta.
Bellini stepped in. Shoulder-to-shoulder.
Took the ball.
Turned. Passed.
Roar of approval.
—
Minute 84: Cafu found Shevchenko again. He darted into space.
Low cross.
Tomasson tapped in.
GOAL.
4–1.
Minute 89: applause around San Siro.
Substitution — Costacurta in. Bellini off.
The crowd stood.
He walked slowly. Not from fatigue, but from awe.
The moment wrapped around him.
He looked up.
Still couldn't see her.
But he felt her smile.
—
In the locker room, Ancelotti hugged him.
"Well done, Luca."
Maldini ruffled his hair.
"You've arrived."
—
Outside the stadium, beneath the awning, Sofia waited. Her coat still on.
He walked up to her, hair soaked, smile wide.
"You saw?"
"I saw."
They didn't say more.
They just walked.
—
Journal entry:
February 29 — Parma.
I scored. I stood tall. But what I'll remember is the noise.
And one person watching.
Everything felt lighter after.
Not easier — just lighter.