The iconic image of Inter defender Marco Materazzi leaning on the shoulder of AC Milan’s Rui Costa has become a symbol of the fierce rivalry between the two clubs. The photograph, taken by Stefano Rellandini in May 2023, captures a moment of calm amid the chaos that erupted during the 2005 Champions League quarter‑final second leg at the San Siro, when the match was abandoned after flares and other objects rained down on the pitch. Rellandini, who was then working for Reuters, explained that the picture was taken when Materazzi, known for his physical style, placed his elbow on Rui Costa’s shoulder, a gesture that contrasted the “beauty and the brawn” of the two players. The image has since been replayed on BBC Two and iPlayer ahead of the upcoming Milan derby.
The abandoned match itself was a turning point in the 2004‑05 campaign. Milan were leading 3‑0 on aggregate when the referee halted play after 73 minutes, following a flare that narrowly missed goalkeeper Dida’s head. The match was later awarded to Milan, who had already eliminated Inter in the previous season’s semi‑finals on away goals. The incident highlighted the intense atmosphere that surrounds a Milan‑Inter encounter at the San Siro, a venue that has seen both triumph and turmoil. Rellandini recalled that the supporters’ “choreography of the supporters is huge and great,” and that the tension escalated after Inter’s Esteban Cambiasso goal was disallowed, sparking a wave of flares and objects that lasted for 15 to 20 minutes.
The 2005 quarter‑final was a clash of two sides built on star talent. Milan fielded a formidable defence of Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini, with a midfield that included Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Massimo Ambrosini and Kaka, and a front line featuring Hernán Crespo and Andriy Shevchenko. Rui Costa was on the bench. Inter, meanwhile, had invested heavily in the summer, bringing in the likes of Ronaldo, Christian Vieri, Adriano and a midfield centred on Juan Sebastián Veron and Esteban Cambiasso. The match was a showcase of the contrasting styles that defined the rivalry: Milan’s disciplined, tactical approach against Inter’s flair and ambition.
The drama on the pitch was compounded by off‑pitch tensions. Milan’s Shevchenko opened the scoring in the second leg, but the match was marred by a disallowed Cambiasso goal after a foul on Dida. The subsequent flare incident saw Dida suffer burns to his shoulder, and the match was suspended for almost half an hour before both teams were escorted off the field. Rellandini noted that the pitch was “completely in the fog” after the flares, making it difficult to capture the full extent of the chaos, yet he managed to seize the moment that would become a lasting symbol of the derby’s intensity.
Looking ahead, the legacy of that night continues to echo in the rivalry. The 2005 incident remains a cautionary tale of how quickly a match can turn violent, while the photograph of Materazzi and Rui Costa stands as a reminder of the human moments that can arise even in the most heated contests. As the two clubs prepare for their next meeting, the memory of that chaotic night and the iconic image it produced will undoubtedly linger in the minds of players, fans and journalists alike.