Milan icon Ricardo Kaka is eagerly anticipating the Derby della Madonnina to get underway, as the Rossoneri prepare to take on the Nerazzurri in their two biggest games of the season so far. With nothing left to play for except the UEFA Champions League, and bragging rights ofcourse, both teams will meet for the fifth time in Europe.
The Brazilian maestro shed light (via FCInterNews) on the ‘unique’ fixture that awaits to grace the beautiful game on Wednesday, explaining its seriousness.
“The derby is a very unique match. Everywhere you go in that week everyone talks about the derby. The Inter and AC Milan fans we met advised each other on what to do in the match: ‘don’t make jokes’ they told us.”
Kaka first scored in the derby from a header in 2003, the same year Milan won their sixth UCL accolade via penalties against Juventus in the final.
“For me it is very nice to remember my goal in the derby, with a header which was not my strongest feature. That goal will remain in my head forever, I remember my excitement and that of the fans who came rushing under the curve to celebrate. Difficult to say how I dreamed the first goal would, but I can say that it was much more than I had dreamed. I never thought it could have happened.”
Kaka starred the last time the duo tussled in the Champions League quarter-final in 2005 – a second-leg match starkly remembered for Inter fans hurling flares onto the pitch. The match was ultimately abandoned as Milan progressed as winners into the semis after being handed a 3-0 victory by simulation.
The Rossoneri remain unbeaten in four head-to-head games against Inter in European competition, winning two and drawing two.
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