Juventus fans were in shock.Their minds seemed unable to process what had just happened.
The overall situation was supposed to favor Juventus. Their midfield and front lines pushed high, applying pressure.They expected to keep controlling the game — yet Milan scored on their very first counterattack.
Was AC Milan really that strong?
Of course, some understood the truth: it wasn't Milan's strength that was overwhelming, but Šuker's exceptional power.
Just one chance, one single opportunity — and Šuker converted it into a goal.
That kind of efficiency put enormous pressure on Juventus.
Their mindset still seemed stuck in Serie B — even with little pressure from the defense, forwards in Serie B often missed chances.
But Serie A was different.
And Šuker was no ordinary striker.
Against possibly the most dangerous forward in the world right now, even a moment of distraction was punished with a goal — like this one.
Šuker had already run to the corner flag to celebrate.
Milan players followed, gathering around him in a big embrace.
Juventus players looked grim — maybe it was time for a change in mentality.
This wasn't Serie B anymore.
They needed more focus.
More alertness.
"Get your heads in the game!" Buffon clapped his hands, shouting.
Though it hurt inside, he knew the team couldn't let the goal break their spirit.
AC Milan wasn't invincible; they had weaknesses too.
Despite Šuker's powerful impact, Milan's fragile defense was dragging the team down.
Players like Del Piero, Nedvěd, and Trezeguet had chances to break through Milan's defense — Milan's forwards just hadn't fired up yet.
They needed time.
"Kaká and Šuker are making overlapping runs. Kaká pulls wide, Šuker cuts in with a cross — Seedorf's header! Buffon makes an excellent save!"
"Milan with a corner kick! Šuker got his head on it, but it went just over the crossbar!"
"Kaká shoots from distance! Great power, but too straight. Buffon comfortably catches it."
Milan repeatedly threatened Juventus' goal on counterattacks.
Buffon was sweating profusely.
The pressure was almost unbearable.
Yes, Milan's forwards hadn't hit top gear yet — but their defense was already starting to crack.
"Don't let the midfield leak players! Mark tightly! Mark tightly!" Buffon shouted.
He felt Juventus' midfield was too scattered.
Even with five men committed, Milan kept breaking through with dangerous counters.
Buffon sensed Šuker's form was climbing steadily.
With restrictions in place, Šuker shifted to attacking with headers instead of shots.
But if he got a real chance? Who knew what kind of angle he'd shoot from?
Buffon couldn't afford any mistakes.
Chiellini was sweating as well.
Having faced Šuker before, he thought he understood him.
But everything now told him otherwise.
In just one season away from the top flight, when did Serie A suddenly get this freakish player?
With Chiellini and a retreating midfielder working together, they could only limit Šuker's shooting angles — not his headers.
If this continued, danger was imminent.
At 23 minutes, the game grew more intense.
Juventus kept pressing Milan's goal.
Milan continued to seize limited counterattack chances to threaten Juventus.
Šuker's impact was on full display.
Even with most teammates retreating, Šuker held his own against Juventus' three defenders.
"Šuker is extremely dangerous. But Juventus has poured so much manpower into midfield that Milan can't find penetrating passes — which makes Šuker's job harder,"
Aldo Serena said seriously.
He believed Milan still didn't support Šuker enough.
With the strong Pirlo-Šuker axis, play should be directed through the middle, letting the wings stretch Juventus' defense.
That was Serena's thought.
But Ancelotti had to consider the bigger picture.
He didn't want Šuker to bear too much pressure alone.
That would be too much of a test for him.
Besides, if Šuker got injured, Milan's chances would be nearly gone.
Therefore, Ancelotti slightly reduced Šuker's tactical resources this season, redistributing some to the midfield.
Ancelotti's idea: take 20% of the resources from Šuker, give it to midfield, who then convert that 20% into 40% support back to Šuker.
In other words, the midfield had to carry more responsibility.
Previously, Milan's strength was mainly from a stable defense and powerful front.
Now, with a weakened defense, the midfield needed to withstand greater pressure.
It was still a work in progress — trial and adjustment.
In this process, Šuker had to hold strong.
At 37 minutes, Milan launched another counterattack.
Pirlo passed to Kaká.
Kaká used skill to turn and shake off defenders, looked up.
But Šuker didn't move forward — instead, he ran toward Kaká and gestured for the ball.
No one knew what he was thinking, but Kaká passed anyway.
"Great chance!"
Chiellini sprinted forward, trying to disrupt Šuker's reception.
But Šuker didn't sit back.
He met the ball, lightly touched it with his right foot, then stomped hard forward with his left foot — faking a forceful breakthrough on the right.
This made Chiellini instinctively step forward to block.
But Šuker planted his left foot, twisted his body the other way, dragged the ball with his right foot, spinning tightly around Chiellini.
Bang!
Šuker's first touch was a powerful dribble.
Then, like a rocket, he burst through Juventus' defense.
"Šuker!!!"
Aldo Serena exclaimed.
Chiellini was an excellent defender — but Šuker seemed impossible to stop.
This was already the second time!
Šuker sprinted after the ball.
His dribble was wide — maybe too wide.
If Buffon had rushed out decisively, he might have cleared the ball first.
But remembering his last mistake, Buffon hesitated.
This allowed Šuker to catch up and run one-on-one.
"Damn it!"
Buffon quickly closed in, crouched low, trying to block as many shooting angles as possible.
But Šuker didn't shoot.
He tapped the ball forward and chased it down again.
Buffon was crouched low — what could Šuker do?
Suddenly, Šuker slipped past Buffon's side.
Buffon tried to stop him but was too late.
Šuker caught the ball and easily slotted it into the empty net.
40 minutes — Šuker scored his second goal.
"Second goal!! This is AC Milan's super striker! Last season Šuker scored 30+ goals, breaking the Serie A single-season record, and his madness continues!"
"Facing their old rivals Juventus, who just returned from Serie B, Šuker showed no mercy!"
"Two goals to 'welcome' Juventus back to Serie A!"
A small group of Milan fans in the away stand began to cheer loudly.
Šuker's hot streak gave them hope for this difficult season.
Although many media outlets continued to disparage Milan,and their confidence was still somewhat shaky,
they had Šuker.
His goals were their backbone.
Looking at the young man wearing the number 10 red-and-black jersey, Milan fans felt immense pride.
They had Šuker!They had the best player!