Milan Derby Ends in Draw as Inter and AC Milan Battle in Perth
In a highly anticipated pre-season clash in Perth, Australia, AC Milan and Inter Milan played out a 1-1 draw, offering a glimpse of the intensity expected in the upcoming Serie A season. The match, held at Optus Stadium on August 5, 2026, saw Inter take the lead through Federico Dimarco, only for a soft penalty converted by Christopher Nkunku to level the score for the Rossoneri. The friendly was part of the Calcio Italiano Australian tour, marking the first of several high-profile matches Down Under.nnInter’s coach Cristian Chivu fielded a strong starting XI, including Alessandro Bastoni, Benjamin Pavard, Nicolo Barella, and Dimarco, alongside rising star Pio Esposito. The Nerazzurri dominated much of the play and created several chances, but their inability to convert more than one goal proved costly. This result extends Inter’s winless run against their city rivals to eight matches, a statistic that will concern Chivu as he prepares his team for the season opener, just seventeen days away. The coach will take valuable insights from the match regarding his squad’s physical conditioning, with the final pre-season test against Juventus scheduled for August 8.nnAC Milan, meanwhile, showed resilience, with Nkunku’s penalty coming after a period of sustained pressure. The match was preceded by a poignant tribute to legendary captain Franco Baresi, with a minute’s silence and Milan players wearing his iconic Number 6 shirt. The occasion highlighted the deep respect between the two clubs, even in a friendly setting.nnOne notable moment came when Hakan Calhanoglu entered the fray as a substitute for Inter. The Turkish midfielder, who gained notoriety in Australia during the World Cup for his bold prediction that Turkey would dominate the Socceroos (only to lose 2-0), was booed by the crowd. After the match, Calhanoglu acknowledged the team’s fatigue but stressed the importance of building fitness: “We are working very hard, everyone is a bit tired but it’s important to put the work into the legs. We have to look forward, the next game will also be tough and it will be important to start well into the Serie A.” With both teams showing promise and areas to improve, the draw sets
Shimanta Das 
