Milan and Inter legends Paolo Maldini and Javier Zanetti now work at the clubs where they spent most of their careers and explained how they prepared for the Derby della Madonnina.
It kicked off at 19.45 GMT at a packed San Siro, you can follow the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
The two legends, Maldini a director and Zanetti a vice-president, spoke to DAZN together before kick-off at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
“It’s fantastic, because football without fans is a different sport,” said Maldini.
“We were born with this idea of football in a packed stadium and I think it’s the most important motivation of all. We’re very happy to see the people back in the stands.
“It’s easy to prepare for a fixture like this, as everyone is super concentrated. Sometimes the tension can be so much that it blocks you, but like the Champions League, these are all experiences we are learning from.”
Zanetti confessed seeing all these people in the stadium “makes you want to put your boots on and get on the pitch. We’ve got everything it takes for a great game.”
As both were previous captains, what did they say to their players just before kick-off in a Milan Derby?
“You tried to reassure everyone, even if inside you were burning up,” smiled Maldini.
“I always recognised a coach like Carlo Ancelotti, who was calm and helped everyone else feel calm too. Is Zlatan Ibrahimovic calm? No, he’s extremely tense!”
Zanetti admitted it is “impossible not to be tense in a game like this, but the tension has to spur you on. I would tell my teammates just to be ready for a great game, knowing we were up against a strong opponent.”