AC Milan vs. AS Roma
(Matchday 7, Serie A 2017/18)
The date was October 1st, 2017, and the San Siro was rocking. Matchday 7 had arrived. AC Milan were about to face their biggest test of the season so far — AS Roma. Both clubs were in the top half of the table, each with a lot to prove. The sky above was dim and grey, the kind that signaled war.
In the locker room, the atmosphere was tense but focused. Montella's gravelly voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Keep your heads! This isn't just a game — this is our home. Don't let them come in here and disrespect it!"
Milan was tying his boots when Hakan Çalhanoğlu walked over and nudged him.
"Hey, Ragazzo Fantasma, you ready to show Rome what a phantom can really do?"
"Always," Milan smirked, pulling his jersey over his head — the bold number 72 across the back.
The starting lineup boomed across the San Siro speakers. "Number 72... Milan Martinez Villa!"
The crowd erupted.
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Kick-Off
From the first whistle, the match was chaos. Roma pressed hard — Džeko, Nainggolan, and Perotti were everywhere. Kessié clattered into tackles. Romagnoli barked orders, while Donnarumma made early saves to keep the scores level.
By the 17th minute, disaster struck. A miscommunication between Biglia and Calabria led to a turnover. Nainggolan pounced, slipped a pass through to Džeko, who blasted it past Donnarumma. 0–1.
Milan clenched his fists as he jogged to the halfway line.
"Let's go! Heads up!" he shouted.
But it got worse. In the 29th minute, Perotti's mazy run caught Abate flat-footed, and he curled in a beauty from the edge of the box. 0–2.
"Wake up!" Montella screamed from the sideline, veins bulging.
Just before halftime, the spark returned. Milan dropped deep to receive a pass, turned quickly, and nutmegged Strootman before feeding the ball to Suso. The Spaniard slid it back to Milan, who lobbed a pass into the box where André Silva leapt and nodded it in. 1–2.
San Siro roared.
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Second Half – The Battle Begins
Milan came out a different beast.
In the 57th minute, he danced past Fazio on the wing, who clipped his ankles. Free kick. Hakan stepped up but blasted over.
"Next one's mine," Milan said, eyes locked on Hakan.
Moments later, Florenzi tackled him hard and whispered, "Not so invisible now, huh?"
Milan smirked. "You'll see."
In the 65th minute, Bonaventura intercepted a poor pass and immediately found Milan on the left flank. With a feint and a burst of acceleration, he left Bruno Peres in the dust and rifled a low strike across the keeper into the far corner. 2–2.
He ran toward the crowd, hands out wide. "We're not done yet!"
As the game ticked into the 80s, both sides grew desperate. Roma's Manolas and Milan's Romagnoli clashed physically, both yelling in each other's faces after a harsh tackle.
"You'll remember my name!" Manolas growled.
"You'll remember the Phantom," Milan replied calmly.
---
Additional Time
Neither team could find the winner in 90 minutes. Montella rallied the squad.
"You've come this far. You bleed for this shirt now!"
In the 97th minute, Milan sliced through midfield and played a one-two with Cutrone before being yanked down just outside the box by De Rossi.
Whistle.
Free kick.
Milan picked up the ball.
"You got this?" Cutrone asked.
Milan didn't answer. He set the ball down, eyes narrowed.
Three deep breaths. The crowd held theirs.
He took a short run-up and whipped a curling right-footed shot over the wall — it dipped and spun into the top right corner.
GOAL! 3–2!
San Siro exploded.
He sprinted to the corner flag, arms wide, teammates swarming him.
"You're unreal!" Suso laughed, ruffling his hair.
"Boy Wonder! Il Ragazzo Fantasma!" the fans chanted.
---
Full Time: AC Milan 3–2 AS Roma (AT)
Another heroic performance by Milan Martinez Villa: 2 goals, 1 assist, and countless memories etched into the night. He walked off the pitch, sweat dripping, heart pounding.
Rome had come to conquer, but they left haunted.
The Phantom had struck again.