There could be nothing more overt to signify the dawn of a new AC Milan era. With new ownership on the horizon, a new head coach in Vincenzo Montella, a new style of football and a promising crop of exciting young players, all that remained was a symbolic result to mark the changing times.
That result came on Saturday night, as Milan defeated reigning Italian champions Juventus 1-0 at the San Siro to move within two points of their league-leading visitors in the ninth round of Serie A action.
Juventus had won their previous six fixtures in all competitions going into the clash, a sequence that saw them reassert their authority in the race for a record-breaking sixth consecutive Scudetto.