AC Milan vs Inter Milan in Perth: guide to the Milan derby at Optus Stadium
AC Milan and Inter Milan are taking one of the world's most famous city rivalries to the other side of the globe. The match at Optus Stadium in Burswood will be played on Wednesday, 5 August 2026, and according to the schedules published by the stadium and the city's public transport operator, kick-off is at 19:00 local time. The gates open at 17:30. This is an important correction to earlier announcements stating that the match would begin at 18:00.
This is a pre-season friendly, so there are no league points at stake, but the significance is far from small. AC Milan are entering a new era under Rúben Amorim, while Cristian Chivu's Inter are beginning the season after winning a domestic double in the 2025/26 campaign. For both coaches, this is an opportunity to test their systems, fitness levels and squad depth before competitive league commitments begin.
Perth is not receiving an ordinary summer friendly. Milan and Inter share a city, a stadium and more than a century of direct rivalry. Even when the result does not count towards a competitive record, a match like this quickly stops looking friendly as soon as the first forceful challenges, high pressing and reactions from the supporters in the stands appear.
Tickets for this match are in high demand among supporters, especially because the Milan derby is rarely played outside Europe.
What is at stake for AC Milan and Inter
For AC Milan, the Australian tour is part of the early process of shaping the team according to Rúben Amorim's ideas. The Portuguese coach took charge of the team in June, and the first pre-season match against Celtic ended 2-2. Milan were punished twice in the first half after mistakes while building attacks, but equalised after the break with two goals from Francesco Camarda. That match already highlighted the two main themes of their preparations: the desire to play out from the back in a controlled manner and the risk that arises when spacing or passes under pressure are inaccurate.
Inter arrive in Perth from a different starting position. Chivu's team are defending their status as Italian champions and are coming off a season in which they won a domestic double. Their first more serious summer test ended in a 2-1 victory over Karlsruher SC. Inter were behind until stoppage time, when Andy Diouf scored in the 90+1 and 90+4 minutes. Such a comeback says little about league form, but it demonstrates the squad's depth and the energy of players fighting for a place.
The match in Perth is also important because of the schedule. Before arriving in Australia, Inter play Manchester City in Hong Kong, while Milan travel to Jakarta after Perth for a match against Chelsea. The coaches must therefore distribute playing time, manage workloads and gradually involve players who joined pre-season preparations later.
Current form and the first summer indications
The pre-season results so far provide several concrete clues:
- AC Milan drew 2-2 with Celtic after trailing 0-2, with Francesco Camarda scoring both goals.
- Milan started the match in Glasgow in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with a large number of young players and eight changes at half-time.
- Inter defeated Karlsruher SC 2-1, although they were behind until the closing stages.
- Andy Diouf scored both of Inter's goals in stoppage time, while Federico Dimarco created pressure from the left side.
- Inter used a 3-5-2 formation in that match and changed all of their outfield players after the break.
Pre-season matches should not be treated as a finished picture of the season. Teams change almost their entire line-ups, players arrive at different stages of their rest periods, and training intensity often affects freshness. Nevertheless, Milan's difficulties when playing the ball out and Inter's persistence in the closing stages are details worth following at Optus Stadium.
Players worth watching
Milan's squad for the tour includes a combination of established players, new faces and youngsters. Rafael Leão, Luka Modrić, Alexis Saelemaekers, Ardon Jashari, Gonçalo Ramos and Koni De Winter were expected to join the team directly in Australia. The list also includes Christopher Nkunku, Samu Chukwueze, Youssouf Fofana, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Matteo Gabbia, Strahinja Pavlović, Fikayo Tomori and the young Camarda.
For supporters, it will be particularly interesting to see how Amorim intends to position Leão and Nkunku behind or around the central striker. Leão can open up the match with a run from a wide position, while Nkunku offers movement between the lines and finishing from deeper areas. Modrić brings composure in possession, but during pre-season it is unrealistic to expect all of the more experienced players to immediately play a full match.
Francesco Camarda enters the match after scoring twice against Celtic. His reactions inside the penalty area, movement towards the near post and ability to attack crosses make him a logical candidate for playing time in Perth. Chukwueze raised the tempo on the right side in Glasgow and provided the assist for Camarda's second goal.
Milan's published tour squad did not include Mike Maignan or Christian Pulisic. This should not automatically be interpreted as an injury, but their participation in Perth should not be assumed without new confirmation from the club.
For Inter, attention is expected to focus on Nicolo Barella, Federico Dimarco and Alessandro Bastoni, three players who determine the team's tempo, width and progression. Barella's vertical passes were already important against Karlsruher, while Dimarco created opportunities from the left flank after the break. From the defensive line, Bastoni allows Inter to bypass the first line of pressure with passes towards the midfield or striker.
Lautaro Martínez, Marcus Thuram, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Petar Sučić and Manuel Akanji had summer international commitments, so the decision about their playing time will depend on their workload and the coaching staff's plan. Inter's first pre-season match therefore included a large number of young players, while Diouf, Dimarco, Bastoni, Benjamin Pavard and Piotr Zieliński came on after half-time.
Tactical expectations
The most interesting part of the match could be the clash between two systems featuring three centre-backs. Milan used a 3-4-2-1 against Celtic, while Inter played in a 3-5-2 against Karlsruher. On paper, the formations are similar, but their attacking methods may be different.
Amorim will probably expect one of the central midfielders to offer a passing option in front of the first line of pressure, while the wing-backs must maintain width. If Leão or Nkunku move from the half-spaces, Inter's wide centre-backs will have to decide whether to step out towards them or remain close to the central striker. Milan pose their greatest threat when they win the ball and quickly attack the space behind Inter's advanced wide players.
Inter will try to create an overload in the middle with three midfielders and two forwards who take turns dropping towards the ball. Dimarco is particularly important because he simultaneously provides width, crossing and a goal threat from outside the penalty area. If Milan's right-sided wing-back is late, Inter may gain an open route into the final third.
Milan did not look secure against Celtic when their opponents pressed the centre-backs and blocked the short pass into midfield. Inter have players capable of reproducing that pressure. On the other hand, Inter struggled to score against Karlsruher until the closing stages, so Chivu will demand quicker attacking combinations and more runs from deeper positions.
Because of the pre-season nature of the match, it is possible to expect two almost entirely different games within the same 90 minutes. The first half may belong to the more experienced line-ups, with the second half given to younger players and candidates for rotation. The number of substitutions will almost certainly be greater than in a league match, so it will be more useful to follow the patterns of play than only the starting line-up.
Recent derbies as a warning to Inter
AC Milan won both league derbies in the 2025/26 season by a score of 1-0. In November, Christian Pulisic scored the decisive goal and Mike Maignan saved a penalty, while Pervis Estupiñán was the scorer in March. Between those defeats, Inter recorded a long winning streak in the league, but they were unable to score against their city rivals.
The three most recent league meetings ended as follows:
- AC Milan 1-0 Inter - 8 March 2026, goal by Pervis Estupiñán.
- Inter 0-1 AC Milan - 23 November 2025, goal by Christian Pulisic.
- AC Milan 1-1 Inter - 2 February 2025, goals by Tijjani Reijnders and Stefan de Vrij.
The squads have changed since then, and the match in Perth does not carry the same competitive pressure. Nevertheless, the latest results give Milan a psychological foundation. Inter will want to end their scoreless run against their rivals, while Amorim has an immediate opportunity to experience how quickly a friendly match can turn into a derby.
Optus Stadium and the atmosphere in Burswood
Optus Stadium has a capacity of 60,000 and is located on the Burswood Peninsula, east of central Perth, beside the Swan River. The multi-purpose stadium hosts Australian football, cricket, rugby, association football and concerts, while the seating plan for this match includes separate active supporter areas for AC Milan and Inter.
This will be Inter's first appearance in Australia. Milan, on the other hand, are visiting Perth for the third consecutive year after matches against AS Roma in 2024 and Perth Glory in 2025. That difference could be noticeable in local recognition, but the arrival of both clubs in the same week gives the event a distinctly international character.
The atmosphere will not replicate San Siro. Perth will welcome many families, neutral spectators and supporters who have waited a long time for an opportunity to see the clubs live. The active supporter areas should provide a clear division of colours and songs behind the goals.
Seats in the stands are disappearing quickly, so it is worth securing tickets in good time.
How to get to the stadium
Transport organisers have prepared a special timetable for a weekday. The simplest option for most visitors will be to take a train to Perth Stadium Station or travel to Matagarup Bridge and continue on foot.
- The stadium's address is 333 Victoria Park Drive, Burswood, Western Australia.
- The gates open at 17:30, and the match begins at 19:00 local time.
- Trains between Perth Station and Perth Stadium Station are expected to run every 4 minutes from 17:05 to 19:21.
- There will be no special stadium buses before the match because the timing overlaps with the weekday evening peak.
- The Red CAT travels to the Matagarup Bridge area, from where visitors can continue to the stadium on foot across the bridge.
- There is no general-public parking in the Optus Stadium car parks on major event days.
Travel on the Transperth network is included with the match ticket for three hours before and three hours after the event. The ticket must be carried during the journey. Visitors planning to collect their ticket only at the stadium must purchase a regular transport ticket for the journey there.
After the match, trains towards Perth Station will depart frequently, while direct services towards Fremantle, Mandurah and Yanchep are expected to begin approximately 15 minutes after the final whistle. Special buses from the stadium will operate for 45 minutes after the match. Because large crowds are expected, it is sensible to arrive early, particularly for those entering an active supporter area or visiting the stadium for the first time.
What supporters should watch from the warm-up
Even during the warm-up, it should be possible to see how seriously the coaches have allocated playing time. If Leão, Modrić and other players who joined Milan later appear in the main group, they will probably play at least part of the match. For Inter, an important indication will be the presence of players returning after summer international commitments.
There are three things to watch on the pitch: Milan's build-up under pressure, Inter's left side with Dimarco and the way both teams defend the space behind their wide players. These details could determine whether the match is closed and tactical or open with numerous transitions.
Ticket sales for this match are under way. For visitors travelling from outside Perth, the most important considerations are coordinating their arrival with the evening traffic peak, using public transport and allowing enough time for security screening before kick-off.
Sources:
- AC Milan - publication of the tour squad, appointment of Rúben Amorim and report from the match against Celtic.
- Inter - Australian tour schedule, statement by Cristian Chivu, report from the match against Karlsruher and results of recent derbies.
- Optus Stadium - match date and time, gate opening time, capacity, address, seating plan and parking rules.
- Transperth - special trains and buses, Red CAT, included public transport and instructions for departure after the match.