February 8, 2004 — AC Milan vs. Lecce
The cold winds of February howled across the rooftops of Milan, but inside San Siro, the air was sharp with anticipation. The headlines across Italy were beginning to acknowledge something more than just a rising defender. Luca Bellini had become essential — not flashy, not headline-hungry, but central.
And Luca?
He turned the volume down. Literally.
Every morning, he placed his phone on silent. Every night, he journaled twice. Once for football. Once for balance.
"I'm not chasing stardom," he told Sofia after dinner one evening. "I'm chasing clarity."
She smiled. "And what happens if they meet in the middle?"
He didn't answer.
—
Training during the week was sharp. Gattuso barked less and joked more. Pirlo kept trying new drills. Even Maldini, ever-serious, was more relaxed.
In the locker room before Lecce, the talk wasn't about pressure. It was about rhythm.
"They'll play narrow," Ancelotti said. "So we stretch them. Width, movement, tempo. Get an early goal and we control the match."
—
Lineups:
AC Milan remained unchanged: Dida; Maldini, Bellini, Nesta, Cafu; Pirlo, Gattuso, Seedorf; Kaká; Shevchenko, Inzaghi.
Lecce arrived in a defensive 4-4-1-1: Sicignano in goal; Abruzzese, Stovini, Savino, and Bovo in defense. Midfield packed with Vugrinec, Ledesma, Piangerelli, and Tonetto. Chevantón behind Bojinov.
Commentator: "The whole world's watching Milan's young wall at the back."
—
From the start, Milan were aggressive.
Minute 3: Cafu charged forward, passed to Kaká. The Brazilian turned, slid the ball to Shevchenko. Shot — saved.
Minute 6: Pirlo found space. Long ball over the top. Inzaghi darted. One touch — wide.
Minute 10: Lecce countered. Vugrinec sprinted. Played through Bojinov. Nesta stepped — Bellini covered. Intercepted, clean.
Applause.
Minute 15: Milan corner.
Pirlo stepped up. This time, Luca stayed back. Ancelotti had warned: Lecce's counters were fast.
Ball swung in — headed clear. Lecce tried to break.
Bellini sprinted. Closed down Tonetto. Tackle.
Ball recovered. Passed forward.
Kaká again. This time he took it himself.
Shot.
GOAL.
1–0 Milan.
—
Minute 21: Lecce tightened their lines. Played physically.
Minute 26: Chevantón fouled Gattuso.
Minute 31: Pirlo found Maldini on the left. Cross floated. Inzaghi volleyed.
GOAL.
2–0.
The rhythm was there.
Minute 38: Lecce's best chance. Piangerelli sent a ball to Bojinov. He broke the line. Dida advanced. Bellini sprinted.
He timed it perfectly. A full-body block, absorbing the striker's momentum.
"HE'S A DAMN OBELISK!" the commentator shouted.
—
Halftime.
In the dressing room, it was calm.
"Keep the ball. Keep the rhythm," Ancelotti said.
Kaká turned to Luca. "How many times have you saved us already?"
Luca shrugged. "Just reading the pages."
—
Second half.
Minute 51: Lecce free kick. Chevantón curled it — over the bar.
Minute 57: Seedorf ran inside, passed to Pirlo. Back to Kaká. He flicked it forward.
Inzaghi again.
GOAL.
3–0.
—
Minute 61: Ancelotti made changes. Ambrosini on. Cafu rested. Pancaro came in. Milan slowed the tempo.
Minute 68: Bellini surged forward — an unexpected run. He reached Lecce's third.
Passed to Kaká, who returned it.
Luca crossed. Almost an assist.
Seedorf volley — saved.
—
Minute 74: Lecce attacked desperately. Chevantón's curling shot — blocked by Bellini's back.
Minute 81: Pirlo intercepted. Forward to Kaká.
Kaká chipped.
Bellini was in the box again.
Header — post!
Gasps.
He smiled. He hadn't expected it.
Minute 88: Lecce gave up.
Final whistle.
3–0 Milan.
—
Post-match interview. Reporters swarmed.
"Are you feeling pressure?"
"Yes. But not the kind you think."
"What kind then?"
"From myself."
That evening, Luca and Sofia walked the streets of Milan, coats brushing as they moved. They passed a poster of him on a sports shop window.
She laughed. "Look, it's you."
He shook his head. "Looks like someone else."
"It doesn't," she said, taking his hand.
And suddenly, the world was quieter.
—
Journal entry:
February 8 — Lecce.
Control is not silence. It's listening carefully, and choosing when to act.
The noise is growing. But I'm still here.
Still listening.