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It seems that any memory is a painful one for Milan fans at the moment.

A dreadful start to the season has provoked longing backward looks to the glorious times of the last two-and-a-half decades.

Many have invoked the names of Gullit, Maldini, Baresi and Van Basten as if to conjure up the spirit which put the club on top of the world.

But it was a slightly different squad which recorded Milan’s biggest ever win at the Stadio Friuli, the ground they visit in fear and trepidation this weekend.

This was Alberto Zaccheroni’s Rossoneri side - a pretty rag-tag mix of the old guard, a sprinkling of stars and some names which would vanish without trace.

Nonetheless, it was good enough to drub the boys from Friuli and set sail for a 16th Scudetto.

Milan looked to have blown their chances of a title when they drew with high-flying Lazio a couple of weeks earlier.

Instead, they switched on the afterburners with their triumph in Udine the second in a run of seven consecutive wins which saw them pinch the title on the last day of the season.

How present day supporters dream of such form.

If there was an object lesson in the “Law of the Ex”, this game in April 1999 was probably it.

Zac was back on his old ground and so too was hitman Oliver Bierhoff.

The German might not have celebrated his strikes, but he certainly helped to put his old club to the sword.

It was Zvoni Boban who started the rout when Valerio Bertotto handballed inside the box under pressure from Bierhoff.

The Croatian was cool as you like in giving big Luigi Turci no chance with his spot kick.

Milan doubled their lead from the same source.

This time some typically exuberant and impressive build-up work from George Weah put a goal on a plate for Zorro - he half-scuffed his shot beyond Turci’s reach.

The game looked to be over before half time when Bierhoff grabbed his first and did not celebrate in respect for his former fans.

However, the busy Brazilian Marcio Amoroso gave a glimmer of hope when he produced a lovely control and finish to snatch a goal back near the hour mark.

That comeback dream was expertly and quickly extinguished.

A pinpoint Demetrio Albertini free-kick was nodded home by Bierhoff to restore the three goal margin and the wonderful Weah completed the destruction.

There was still nearly half an hour to play but Milan took mercy on their footballing victims.

Zaccheroni saw the significance of the result.

This was a decisive win. It allows us to set our sights on a new target, we are now in the hunt for first place. Lazio are still favourites, they are a point ahead, and they are a side ready for victory. But watch out for Fiorentina who are still in contention. The fans gave me a great reception but I am disappointed by the whistles for Oliver. The people from Friuli I know have got a lot of common sense - but evidently a lot of them left it at home.

And Adriano Galliani only had eyes for one Straniero.

I saw an outstanding Boban - they will have to put a gun at my head for me to sell him.

The resounding nature of the result prompted the president of Milan’s title rivals, Sergio Cragnotti, to criticise goalkeeper Turci’s performance.

The netminder hit back by saying the Lazio supremo should be ashamed of making such statements.

And Udinese boss Francesco Guidolin had the final word.

We really wanted to beat Milan, in fact, maybe we were so determined to win that we made some unforgiveable mistakes. We made some serious errors - which I’d put down to inexperience and youth. We got things wrong, but only because we were trying so hard.

Lazio maintained their narrow advantage at the top until the penultimate round of matches going win-for-win with Milan.

A trip to Florence proved fatal for the Biancocelesti as they could only draw while the Rossoneri thumped Empoli.

An away win over Perugia on the final day of the season was enough to see Zac’s Milan home to one of the most improbable titles in the club’s history.

Perhaps only a Scudetto this year under Max Allegri would be even more unexpected.