Coaches cannot wait for Milan derby

The two Milan sides have both been paired with English opponents in the UEFA Champions League last 16 on Friday but their minds will be only on domestic duties on Sunday afternoon in the latest Derby della Madonnina.

World champions
FC Internazionale Milano, who will face Liverpool FC in Europe, are still unbeaten in Serie A having won 12 of their 16 games and hold a seven-point lead over second-placed AS Roma. Meanwhile Milan, set to take on Arsenal FC in defence of their continental title, are back in Italy fresh from lifting the FIFA Club World Cup in Yokohama but have not won a single domestic match at the San Siro this season, leaving them 22 points adrift of Inter. They most recently lost a Coppa Italia last 16 first-leg game 2-1 at home to Calcio Catania on Thursday.

Big game
Inter coach Roberto Mancini said: "We will think about Liverpool later on, especially because before that there is the derby, a game between two sides jam-packed with great champions. It will be a beautiful match even though the derby is always a very peculiar game. The San Siro will be packed and both sides will give their very best to win."

Ancelotti approach
Mancini is still without Patrick Vieira, Oliver Dacourt, Dejan Stanković and Luís Figo in midfield, while Carlo Ancelotti is missing former Inter striker Ronaldo, who is still out of action with a calf injury. Ancelotti said: "Inter are a very strong side but Milan will approach the derby in the best possible way. This game is very important for several reasons. First of all we want to beat the team who have dominated the Italian scene in the last two years. Meanwhile Inter hope to beat the champions of the world. It will be a massive game."