Christopher Nkunku converted a decisive late penalty to earn AC Milan a 1-1 draw against rivals Inter Milan during a pre-season friendly in Perth on Wednesday. The match, played before a crowd of 52,310, saw the Serie A champions take the lead in the 52nd minute through a close-range strike from Federico Dimarco.
Inter Milan appeared poised to secure bragging rights until the 83rd minute, when Carlos Augusto brought down Nkunku inside the area. Nkunku stepped up to convert the spot-kick, leveling the score and denying Inter a victory. This result leaves new AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim still searching for his first win, following a 2-2 draw against Celtic in Glasgow last month.
Amorim, who departed Manchester United in January, faces the challenge of revitalizing a squad that missed out on Champions League qualification last season. While the team showed flashes of promise, the manager will likely be concerned by an error-prone performance that left them fortunate to walk away with a draw.
A notable highlight for Milan was the return of veteran midfielder Luka Modric, who played the final 30 minutes after signing a one-year contract extension. Reflecting on his appearance, Modric remarked, “It was nice to get some minutes under the belt and I felt good. It’s good to have these kinds of games to prepare for the season. I think we did a lot of good things and hopefully we can just improve.”
The match was marked by a somber tone as both teams held a minute’s silence to honor AC Milan legend Franco Baresi, who passed away last week at age 66. The club icon, a 1982 World Cup winner, was remembered for his leadership during the 1980s and 1990s, a period in which he captained the Rossoneri to three European Cups and six Italian league titles.
Earlier in the match, AC Milan showed early promise with teenager Alphadjo Cisse and Samuel Chukwueze providing attacking energy. American midfielder Yunus Musah came close to breaking the deadlock in the 18th minute, but his powerful effort struck the left post. As the game progressed, Inter Milan gained control of possession, eventually capitalizing on Milan’s defensive lapses after the interval.
Following the match, AC Milan is scheduled to face Chelsea in Jakarta this Saturday, while Inter Milan, fresh off a penalty shootout victory over Manchester City in Hong Kong, will remain in Perth to play Juventus on the same day.
In Milan, thousands gathered at the Sant’Ambrogio Basilica on Tuesday to attend the funeral of Baresi. The service drew numerous football luminaries, including former teammates Paolo Maldini, Roberto Baggio, and Alessandro Costacurta. Mourners outside the church paid their respects by waving red-and-black flags and wearing jerseys featuring Baresi’s iconic number six.
Baresi, who retired in 1997 after making 719 appearances for the club—a record surpassed only by Maldini—had been battling health issues, having undergone surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule. While the club did not disclose the specific cause of his death, his legacy as one of the greatest sweepers in the history of the sport remains firmly established.
They will be encouraged by veteran midfield maestro Luka Modric playing the last 30 minutes having recently signed a one-year extension.
Modric entered in the 62nd minute amid a big ovation from the terraces, but AC Milan’s struggles continued.
A World Cup winner with Italy in 1982 and a finalist at the 1994 World Cup, Baresi skippered AC Milan in the 1980s and 1990s when they won three European Cups and six Italian league titles.
Modric started on the bench much to the disappointment of the crowd, with the Croatian receiving loud applause in the warm-up.
Inter Milan then took control of possession as the game went through a lull towards half-time.
