The derby between Milan and Inter, which was played on Halloween night, was not the first meeting of the season between the two teams. In reality, the two teams have already faced each other in a friendly match in Perth, Australia, during the winter break. The match on 5 August, which ended in a 1-1 draw, saw Dimarco and Nkunku score, while the result was decided by a penalty goal from Nkunku in the last minute.
The event in Perth was a special occasion for Italian-Australian fans, but it also represented a turning point for some players. Christopher Nkunku, who scored in the derby, was then sold to Leipzig, where he continued his career. Youssuf Fofana, also present at the match, was left out of the AC Milan squad and now plays for Sevilla. Rafa Leao, who saw the light for 27 minutes, is now at Galatasaray. Davide Frattesi, who participated in the friendly match, is today a key element of Lazio, who are fighting for the title against Inter.
The Halloween matchup saw a large rotation of players from both teams. Milan started with a 3‑4‑2‑1 formation, with Torriani in goal and Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlović among the defenders. In midfield, Chukwueze, Fofana, Musah and Bartesaghi played a central role, while Loftus‑Cheek and Cissè completed the team. Inter, however, played in 3‑5‑2, with Martínez, Pavard, Bisseck, Bastoni, Diouf, Barella, Stanković, Zieliński, Dimarco, Esposito and Iddrissou. The referee, Keevers, was Australian, adding an international touch to the match.
The final result, 1-1, was determined by a penalty goal from Nkunku in eighty-four minutes, after Dimarco had already scored in 53'. The meeting was characterized by a strong presence of players who are now in different clubs, highlighting how football is a market in constant movement. With the season just starting, fans can expect further meetings between the two teams, where the rivalry and transfer dynamics will continue to evolve.