The famous Milan derby is heading to Australia for the first time, with AC Milan and Inter Milan set to face off in a pre-season friendly at Optus Stadium in Perth, according to USA Today. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, with kick-off at 7 a.m. ET (12 p.m. BST), as reported by BetVictor.
Historic Derby della Madonnina Heads to Australia
The exhibition match forms part of both Italian clubs’ preparations ahead of the upcoming campaign. Both squads are missing players who participated in the World Cup, and both managers are looking to spread minutes around during the summer fixture according to USA Today.
Team Form and Management Changes
AC Milan enters the fixture under new management following a turbulent finish to their previous campaign. Ruben Amorim signed a three-year deal in June to replace Massimiliano Allegri after Milan missed out on qualification for the Champions League noted USA Today and talkSPORT. Although the Rossoneri went 24 league matches unbeaten last season—marking the longest run in Serie A—they faltered late in the year and ultimately settled for a Europa League spot reported USA Today. Amorim’s side opened their pre-season schedule with a 2-2 draw against Celtic on July 25 stated BetVictor.
In contrast, Inter Milan comes into the match as the reigning champion. Under the guidance of Cristian Chivu, the Nerazzurri claimed their 21st Serie A title and won the Coppa Italia last term, with Lautaro Martínez contributing 17 league goals according to USA Today. Inter arrives in Perth following a 1-1 draw against Manchester City in Hong Kong on Saturday, where they subsequently won the penalty shootout 3-1 noted USA Today.
Head-to-Head History and Squad Availability
Historically, the two Milan rivals have faced each other 230 times across all competitions, with Inter holding 85 wins compared to Milan’s 76 victories, alongside 69 draws according to BetVictor. Despite Inter’s overall historical edge, Milan holds the recent momentum in the matchup. The Rossoneri are undefeated in their last seven meetings against their city rivals, winning both Serie A league derbies 1-0 last season to secure their first league double over Inter since 2011 reported USA Today.
Both teams will feature modified line-ups due to international absences and injuries:
- AC Milan Absences & Additions: Christian Pulisic is sidelined with an injury noted BetVictor. However, Milan welcomes back Rafael Leao, Ardon Jashari, Koni De Winter, Alexis Saelemaekers, and 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric, while record signing Goncalo Ramos could also feature stated BetVictor.
- Inter Milan Absences & Additions: Inter will play without star forward Lautaro Martínez, who remains on leave following the World Cup, and new signing John Stones reported BetVictor. Aleksandar Stankovic and Ivan Provedel are available for selection stated BetVictor.
How to Watch Live
Fans looking to follow the action in the United States can watch the match live on Fox Deportes, with live streaming available through USA Today.
Worth a look
