Last season was a disappointment for Juventus. The Turin side finished sixth with 69 points, just one point behind fifth-placed AC Milan, missing out on a Champions League spot at the last moment. Despite this, Luciano Spalletti retained his position as head coach, with the club extending his contract until 2028, opting for continuity rather than another change in direction. The objective for the new season is clear – to return to the top four.
This summer, the Bianconeri have been playing in a manner that their coach prefers – defensively. In four friendly matches, they have not conceded a single goal: a goalless draw with Basel, narrow victories over Standard and Chelsea, both 1-0, and a 2-0 win against Nice. After their trip to Hong Kong, the team has arrived in Australia for their second super match of the tour.
Inter comes into this match as the reigning Italian champions. Under the guidance of Cristian Chivu, the Nerazzurri secured a double, winning both the Coppa Italia and Serie A, with the title clinched early on May 3. Their final tally of 87 points saw them finish 11 points clear of second-placed Napoli, but the Champions League remains an unfulfilled goal for the Milan side, as they exited earlier than expected.
The tour has been smooth for the team. They first crushed amateur side SV Essen 16-0, then defeated Karlsruhe 2-1 in Germany, and in Hong Kong, they overcame Manchester City on penalties after a 1-1 draw (3-1). Three days ago in Perth, they drew 1-1 with AC Milan, extending their unbeaten streak to 15 matches, which is impressive.
In their history, the teams have faced each other 270 times. Juventus has 116 wins, Inter has triumphed 83 times, and 71 matches have ended in a draw. Last season, they met twice: Juventus won 4-3 in Turin, while Inter avenged that loss with a 3-2 victory in Milan.
