Juventus and Inter renew rivalry in Perth with both sides fine-tuning for Serie A

Juventus FC and Inter Milan will meet in the Derby d’Italia at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday, 8 August 2026, in a pre-season friendly kicking off at 11:00 GMT.

The match is part of the clubs’ preparations for the new campaign, but the meeting carries added significance because of the long-standing rivalry between two of Italian football’s biggest teams. Mahamad Sangare, presenter of the sports debate programme La VAR on Burkina info TV, has provided his analysis and prediction for the game.

Although the fixture is not competitive, the encounter is expected to serve as an important rehearsal before the return of official football. Both managers will use the match to assess their players’ fitness, test tactical systems and make final adjustments ahead of the new Serie A season.

Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus are in the middle of a preparation tour across Asia and Oceania. The Bianconeri have won their past two friendlies, beating OGC Nice 2-0 before recording a 1-0 victory against Chelsea on 5 August.

Those results have given Juventus a solid defensive platform, with the team keeping two consecutive clean sheets. Spalletti has also been able to work on the side’s organisation while giving playing time to a number of squad members.

Juventus appear to be gradually developing their rhythm, although the primary purpose of the summer programme remains building fitness and cohesion before Serie A begins.

Inter, meanwhile, are completing their 2026 Summer Tour with the clash against Juventus. The Nerazzurri, who are champions of Italy, played AC Milan in Perth on Wednesday, 5 August, drawing 1-1.

Federico Dimarco put Inter ahead in the 52nd minute, but Christopher Nkunku equalised for AC Milan from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute. The result extended what has been an encouraging pre-season for Inter, who have faced a succession of high-level opponents.

Squad concerns

Juventus may have to manage several fitness concerns before Saturday’s game. Khephren Thuram, Nico Gonzalez and Jeff Ekhator are all reported to be carrying physical problems or considered doubtful.

Thuram’s condition is being watched particularly closely, while Gonzalez is also among the players who have recently experienced fitness difficulties.

Inter have their own selection issues, including players returning late from the World Cup and others dealing with physical problems. Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram are the main concerns.

Inter manager Cristian Chivu has indicated that the pair are unlikely to be ready for the beginning of the season, with their returns being handled cautiously.

Head-to-head record

The rivalry between Juventus and Inter is known as the “Derby d’Italia”. Since Serie A adopted a single league structure in the 1929-30 season, the clubs have met 227 times in all competitions. Juventus have won 105 of those games, compared with 64 victories for Inter, while 58 matches have ended in draws.

In Serie A alone, there have been 185 meetings. Juventus lead that record with 89 wins to Inter’s 49, while 47 fixtures have been drawn.

Recent league meetings have been more evenly contested. Inter are unbeaten in the past five Serie A encounters, recording three victories and two draws.

The last two matches between the clubs also produced plenty of goals, with Inter winning 3-2 in February 2026 and Juventus claiming a 4-3 victory in September 2025.

Available bookmaker estimates give Inter about a 36% chance of winning, compared with 27% for Juventus and almost 37% for a draw. A betting price of 1.49 is also highlighted in the preview, with the odds subject to change.

The attacking qualities of both teams, combined with the likelihood of numerous substitutions during a pre-season fixture, make the match a potentially open contest.