
Friendly: Milan 1-1 Inter - Australian Derby ends all square
Quick summary
AC Milan and Inter Milan played out a 1-1 draw in a pre-season friendly held in Australia, part of the Australian Derby tour.
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Attributed to original sourceA soft Christopher Nkunku penalty cancelled out the Federico Dimarco opener, as Inter and Milan drew 1-1 in a pre-season friendly in Perth.
There were several initiatives before kick-off to remember iconic Rossoneri captain Franco Baresi , including a minute’s silence with all the players united around his jersey, and the Milan players wearing his Number 6 shirt. Play also halted at the sixth minute for a further moment of remembrance.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 05: FC Internazionale and AC Milan stand for a minutes silence during the pre-season match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Optus Stadium on August 05, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images) Francesco Camarda and Davide Bartesaghi both somehow failed to get the crucial touch on a Samuel Chukwueze cross at the back post, then Yunus Musah fired into the upright of a practically open goal on the Ruben Loftus-Cheek pull-back.
Francesco Pio Esposito’s acrobatic volley forced a tricky save, as did Piotr Zielinski’s flick from 12 yards.
Inter broke the deadlock with a well-worked move, as young substitute Matteo Lavelli spread it down the right for Nicolò Barella, who rolled across for Federico Dimarco’s tap-in from six yards.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 05: Federico Dimarco of FC Internazionale hugs his team mates after his goal during the pre-season match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Optus Stadium on August 05, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images) Christopher Nkunku had a pop from distance, but Esposito and Henrikh Mkhitaryan both scuffed wide from promising positions, as Milan struggled defending down their left once Pervis Estupinan came on.
Ruben Amorim made eight changes in one go on the hour mark, including Luka Modric, Rafael Leao and Goncalo Ramos.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 05: Luka Modric of AC Milan runs inti the field during the pre-season match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Optus Stadium on August 05, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images) Lavelli went on the counter for Inter and forced a fingertip save from Lorenzo Torriani with his angled drive, while Goncalo Ramos had a shot parried at the near post.
Rafael Leao and Goncalo Ramos showed some interesting combinations, testing Ivan Provedel, but Milan received a rather soft penalty when Christopher Nkunku went down under slight pressure from Carlos Augusto. Nkunku converted it himself, blasting into the roof of the net.
Inter weren’t taking it lying down, as Torriani got down to palm a Mkhitaryan snapshot past the upright, then a very dazed Yann Bisseck had to be helped off the field after Estupinan clattered into the back of his head with a bookable offence.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 05: Aleksandar Stankovic of FC Internazionale turns with the ball during the pre-season match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Optus Stadium on August 05, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images) Milan 1-1 Inter Dimarco 53 (I), Nkunku pen 84 (M)
Milan: Torriani; Tomori (F Terracciano 63), Gabbia (De Winter 63), Pavlovic (Vladimirov 63); Chukwueze (Saelemaekers 63), Musah (Modric 63), Fofana (Jashari 63), Bartesaghi (Estupinan 46); Cissè (Nkunku 46), Loftus-Cheek (Leao 63); Camarda (G Ramos 63)
Inter: J Martinez (Provedel 71); Pavard (Bovio 76), Bisseck (Mosconi 95), Bastoni (Carlos Augusto 71); Diouf (Luis Henrique 71), Barella (Frattesi 71), Stankovic (Mkhitaryan 46), Zielinski (Calhanoglu 71), Dimarco (Maye 80); Pio Esposito (Bonny 71), Iddrissou (Lavelli 46)
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What happened
The Derby della Madonnina was staged in Australia as part of a pre-season tour, with both Milan and Inter sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw. As a friendly fixture, the result carries limited competitive weight but offered both clubs a valuable opportunity to test squad players, assess fitness levels, and build match sharpness ahead of their respective Serie A campaigns. Both sides will take positives from the outing ahead of the new season.
Chance analysis
Pre-season friendlies are primarily fitness and tactical preparation exercises rather than predictive indicators. The 1-1 result is neutral for both clubs and should not materially shift expectations for their Serie A or European campaigns. However, the Australian tour signals both clubs' commercial ambitions in the Asia-Pacific market. Any tactical patterns or player fitness signals from this match are more relevant than the scoreline itself.
No meaningful competitive impact; the draw is a routine pre-season result with no bearing on league standings or form.
Treat this friendly result as low-signal; focus only on fitness, minutes played, and tactical experiments rather than the scoreline for prediction purposes.