Stefano Pioli, Cristiano Biraghi and Bruno Astori all explain why Milan vs. Fiorentina will always be a special event in memory of Davide Astori.
It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT.
This fixture will always be a special one, because these are the clubs where Astori spent most of his career before his untimely death from an undiagnosed cardiac condition in March 2018.
He was only 31 years old and left behind a partner and their young daughter.
“I met up with his family this morning. Davide was not just my captain, but a lad who gave me so much with his presence. Naturally, Milan-Fiorentina will always be his game,” Pioli told Sky Sport Italia.
Pioli was the Fiorentina coach at the time when Astori died at a hotel in Udine, the night before a Serie A match against Udinese.
Current Fiorentina captain and his former teammate Biraghi also commented on the fixture.
“It was the game that meant the most to him. I am glad his family is here and we’ll salute them.”
Bruno Astori, Davide’s brother, is also here to push a charity fundraising campaign to raise funds for children.
“Davide spent many years at the Milan youth academy, he grew up here, so naturally it was a fixture that meant a great deal to him.
“Florence is also the place where he felt most at home and the city continues to surprise us continually with their support and gestures of love towards our family.”
The Fiorentina training centre was also named after Italy international Astori following his passing.