Friends reunited in Milan

It was a case of honours even when midfielders-turned-coaches Carlo Ancelotti and Frank Rijkaard went head to head last season for the first time.

Reunited on Tuesday
The old friends, who starred in AC Milan's European Champion Clubs' Cup successes of 1988/89 and 1989/90, will meet once again on Tuesday when Ancelotti's Milan play host to Rijkaard's FC Barcelona in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final. In the 2004/05 group stage, both men were able to claim home victories and ultimately travelled together to the knockout rounds.

'Great pleasure'
The pair also won two Serie A titles as players with the all-conquering Rossoneri of the late 1980s, but Dutchman Rijkaard has achieved coaching success away from Italy. The 43-year-old, scorer of Milan's winning goal in the 1990 European Cup final against SL Benfica, has only fond words for his former club. "It is always a great pleasure to return to Milan," he said. I have many friends here but now I'm working for Barcelona, so it's a completely different thing."

Group-stage meeting
Friendship went temporarily out of the window in the UEFA Champions League on 20 October 2004, when Barça were beaten 1-0 at the San Siro thanks to Andriy Shevchenko's first-half strike. The Spanish champions gained revenge a fortnight later through a late goal from Ronaldinho that ensured Milan lost 2-1 in the Camp Nou. While Barcelona were eliminated in the first knockout round, Milan went all the way to the final.

Albertini occasion
Last month, a testimonial match for Demetrio Albertini at the San Siro between Milan and Barça stars past and present served only to underline the enduring friendship between Ancelotti and Rijkaard. The Dutchman played one half of the game and then coached Barcelona alongside Johan Cruyff, while Ancelotti stayed on the sidelines and shared coaching duties with Fabio Capello.

In demand
Both coaches gave a joint press conference at the time, and Ancelotti spoke about speculation linking him with Real Madrid CF. "This rumour only proves that Italian coaches are still very popular," he said. "As much as Dutch coaches," he immediately added, turning towards Rijkaard. Meanwhile, the Dutchman pretended he knew a secret about Ancelotti's future before stressing that Ancelotti had no reason to leave Milan. A few weeks later the Rossoneri coach renewed his contract until 2008.

Sacchi legacy
Now the duo are ready to cross swords again in the UEFA Champions League. Despite seeing his side lose to Liverpool FC in last season's Istanbul showpiece, the 46-year-old Ancelotti, who like his counterpart learned much from Arrigo Sacchi, can claim to be one of only four people to have lifted the famous trophy as both player and coach, having guided Milan to glory in 2002/03. His younger rival, whom he has described as "one of the first midfielders who was able to do everything on the pitch", could yet join that select band if Barcelona go all the way. From midfield marvels to managerial maestros, plenty more twists are promised in the Ancelotti and Rijkaard story.