AC Milan Vice-President Not Jumping Ahead To Champions League Derby Vs Inter Milan: ‘One Step At A Time…'
Franco Baresi is not jumping ahead to the possibility of a Champions League derby between AC Milan and Inter Milan.
The Rossoneri Vice-President spoke to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews. He stressed that his team are taking it 'one step at a time.'
There is a realistic chance that Inter Milan and Milan could meet in the Champions League this season.
The two city rivals already did face off in Europe's top club competition a couple years ago. They met in a semifinal tie in 2023, with Inter prevailing 3-0 on aggregate.
This time around, it would be possible for the Nerazzurri and the Rossoneri to meet even earlier.
In seasons past, the quarterfinals would have been the earliest that any two teams from the same league could meet in the Champions League.
But with the change to the format has come a change to that aspect of the rules.
Now, it is possible for two teams from one country to draw each other as the round of sixteen playoff round.
Milan have avoided a playoff against Juventus. They face Feyenoord next month, whilst the Bianconeri take on PSV.
However, either Milan or Juventus could face Inter Milan in the round of sixteen, should they win their respective playoff ties.
In the meantime, though, Inter and Milan face off in just a couple days' time. They play in Serie A on Sunday evening.
The two teams have already met twice this season – once in the league, and once in the Supercoppa Italiana final.
Milan won both the previous meetings this season. They handed the Nerazzurri their only defeat in the league so far.
Moreover, there is a real chance that Inter and Milan will meet in the Coppa Italia semifinals. Therefore, there could well be seven separate Milan derbies this season.
But Milan Vice-President Baresi was cautious. 'Let's take it one step at a time,' he said. 'Right now the league match is on the way.'
'We just met in the Supercoppa,' he noted. 'They'll be angry about it.'
'There will be a great atmosphere on Sunday,' Baresi continued. 'We have to get past the disappointment of the Champions League.'
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