The derby never disappoints, not even in Perth. AC Milan drew 1-1 against Inter in the pre-season friendly played in Australia, extending their positive run against the Nerazzurri rivals that has now lasted several months. The result follows the 1-1 draw against Celtic in Milan’s first outing of the summer, leaving Rubén Amorim‘s record on the Rossoneri bench at two draws from two matches.
Two Milans: First and Second Half Compared
Any reading of this match must begin with a key premise: there were, in effect, two completely different Milan sides on the pitch. Amorim made eight changes at half-time, transforming the lineup entirely. A decision in keeping with the pre-season nature of the fixture, but one that makes any straightforward analysis difficult.
In the first half, the Portuguese manager fielded Torriani in goal; Tomori, Gabbia and Pavlović in defence; Chukwueze, Fofana and Musa in midfield; Bartesaghi, Cissè and Camarda in attack. A clearly experimental lineup, with several youngsters given minutes and a tactical focus on observing specific situations.
The opening 25 minutes showed a Milan that was aggressive, well-organised and capable of pressing with intent. The tempo was high, the play between the lines worked and there were some interesting chances: a good opportunity for Cissè, a quality move from Chukwueze, and most notably a stunning effort from Musa that struck the post at the 18-minute mark — almost a penalty taken in open play. In the closing stages of the half, however, the intensity dropped and Inter grew into the game. The first half ended goalless.
Second Half: Dimarco Strikes, Nkunku Replies
Amorim completely reshuffled the pack for the second half. On came Vladimirov, De Winter and Terracciano in defence; Saelemaekers, Modrić, Jashari and a left-back in midfield; Nkunku, Leão and Gonçalo Ramos in attack. Torriani was the only player to remain on the pitch for the full 90 minutes.
Inter took the lead through Federico Dimarco: a defensive error on the left flank led to an Inter interception, Barella played it across and Dimarco converted. The goal came at a moment when Milan were still finding their shape with the new combination.
Torriani held firm with several smart saves, including a fine stop from Mkhitaryan. From the 62nd minute onwards, Milan’s attacking quality grew: at 73 minutes, a sharp run from Rafael Leão linked up with Gonçalo Ramos and cut the ball back for Nkunku, only for a defender to intervene. At the 83rd minute came the turning point: a foul on Christopher Nkunku, penalty to Milan. The Frenchman stepped up with confidence and converted cleanly to make it 1-1.
In the 88th minute, another superb Torriani save denied Mkhitaryan — the goalkeeper’s best of the night — to preserve the draw. The Perth derby ended 1-1.
Transfer Market and Squad: Quality Must Rise
In terms of the squad, the match confirmed a number of reflections already circulating in recent weeks. The defensive phase continues to show individual lapses: against both Celtic and Inter, Milan conceded goals through avoidable errors. Amorim will certainly have taken notes, knowing full well that such mistakes will be punished once the league season begins.
The future of several players remains open: Tomori, Musa and others are under technical and commercial evaluation. The club is working to raise the overall quality of the squad, and certain departures could fund the arrivals needed to take the team to the next level. Time is ticking — Serie A is just around the corner.
