BARCELONA (AFP) - Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard will relish his Spanish side's Champions League semi-final against his former club AC Milan.

The 43-year-old Dutch defender made his name as a player during his five seasons at Milan, winning both the European Cup and the Serie A titles twice.

With six European Cups to their name Rijkaard knows that Milan are formidable opponents, but one which he feels his side can match.

"For me personally, it's just another game," the Dutchman insisted after goals from Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o saw the Spanish giants defeat Benfica 2-0 in their quarter-final second leg tie at home.

But tell that to the many Barca fans with memories extending back 12 years and who may feel minded to ask who Rijkaard thinks he is kidding.

The last time Barcelona and AC Milan met in the trophy game, in 1994, they seemed well matched.

The Italians had other other ideas as they cantered to a 4-0 victory.

Rijkaard was no longer part of that majestic Milanese side, having gone home to Ajax a year earlier, but there was no old pals act when he helped the Dutch giants to victory in the 1995 final - over Milan.

In three weeks time there will likewise be no room for sentiment.

"We must prepare for two really tough encounters as they've long been at a very high level," said the Dutch master, whose men will be without Portuguese international midfielder Deco, suspended for the opening leg for an early foul Wednesday on Moretto.

Much will hinge on whether Barca's Argentine starlet Leo Messi returns in time from injury to step into Deco's shoes and which pair of strikers is quickest off the blocks.

Ronaldinho and Eto'o now have a dozen goals between them in the tournament while Milan possess assassins of their own in Pippo Inzaghi and Andrei Shevchenko.

In seeing off a Benfica side, who knocked out both a complacent Manchester United and also holders Liverpool, Barca have shown they have not run out of steam, but few sides are as wily as Milan.

"They have oodles of quality at the back and have bags of experience," noted Barca keeper Victor Valdes.

Rijkaard's level-headedness has helped Barca reach the last four for the first time since 2000, that year bringing a humiliating loss to title-bound rivals Real Madrid.

But he will be mindful of the fact that "only" winning La Liga is not enough for those who sup at the top table of Spanish football.

Former Real coach Vicente del Bosque was sacked after delivering the 2002 Champions League and the 2003 league title and Louis Van Gaal, the last Dutchman to coach Barca before Rijkaard, parted company with the club twice after domestic league wins proved his limit.