MILAN - With the 1997/98 season, Uefa adopted a series of changes for its manifestations, which preceded the great reform of 1999. From 1998. the European Super Cup is therefore assigned in a single match played in August at the Louis II stadium of Montecarlo as the main event of the new football season following the draws of the Champions League and Uefa Cup which are held in Monaco.

Milan, following the last win of 1995, arrives at the Principality of Monaco on the 28th of August 2003 following the great win at Manchester from the penalty shoot-out against rivals Juventus. To face the Rossoneri in this new edition of the Super Cup is Porto of Jose Mourinho who was at the time considered as one of the upcoming European coaches.

The European Champions of Milan arrive to this final with the new purchases Cafu from Roma and Pancaro from Lazio, whilst the great talent of Ricky Kaka was still being discovered.

The start of the season was not one of the best following the defeat at New York in the Italian Super Cup against Juventus from the penalty spot. Still, the Rossoneri led by Manuel Rui Costa and the striker Shevchenko manage to  beat their Portuguese opponent in a difficult game dominated by the reasoned ball possession of both teams. Sheva decided the match in the 10th minute of the first half following the umpteenth assist of Rui Costa.

THE MATCH STATS

MILAN-PORTO 1-0

Milan: Dida; Simic, Nesta, Maldini, Pancaro; Rui Costa (85' Cafu), Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf (71' Ambrosini); Shevchenko (75' Rivaldo), Inzaghi. Coach. Ancelotti

Porto: Vitor Baia; Paulo Ferreira, Jorge Costa, Ricardo Carvalho, Ricardo Costa; Alenichev (75' Ricardo Fenandes), Costinha (67' Bosingwa), Deco, Maniche; McCarthy (59' Jankauskas), Derlei

Source: acmilan.com