Philippe Mexes helped settle an otherwise mundane Derby della Madonnina clash with a superb long-range volley in Shenzhen.
Both Inter Milan and city rivals AC Milan struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout, but the centre-back's strike just after the hour settled things.
The Nerazzurri, who boasted plenty of young players in their ranks for large parts, failed to find an equaliser in the remaining time to ensure that bragging rights belonged to Sinisa Mihajlovic's charges in the International Champions Cup friendly.
Relive Milan's 1-0 victory over Inter with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the pre-season clash between local rivals AC Milan and Inter Milan in China.
This is the inaugural match in the Chinese leg of the International Champions Cup and, while it may only be a friendly match, Derby della Madonnina encounters rarely go by without incident so expect some talking points throughout the course of the afternoon.
Both of these (fallen) Italian giants have endured mixed starts to their summer programmes so far, picking up two wins and losing last time out against tougher opposition, meaning that the pressure is on to impress in front of a capacity crowd at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Campus.
Before looking at this historic fixture in so more depth, and exactly what this tournament is all about, let's check out the team news from both camps.
TEAM NEWS!
AC Milan XI: Lopez; Calabria, Alex, Ely, De Sciglio; De Jong, Poli, Bertolacci; Honda; Matri, Niang
Inter Milan XI: Carrizo; Santon, Andreolli, Popa, Nagatomo; Gnoukouri, Taider; Baldini, Delgado, Dimarco; Longo
There is no place for marquee summer signing Carlos Bacca in the starting lineup, meaning that M'Baye Niang and Alessandro Matri are selected to lead the line against rivals Inter. Young full-back Davide Calabria is also selected at the back in a Milan side boasting both youth and experience.
Inter, meanwhile, have gone for youthful exuberance in the shape of Razvan Popa, Assane Demoya Gnoukouri, Enrico Baldini and Pedro Delgado. Like Milan, Inter have opted to leave key signing Geoffrey Kondogbia out of the starting lineup from the off.
Kickoff in Shenzhen is now a little over 15 minutes away:
Looking back at pre-season to date for both these sides, it is fair to say that their fortunes have been pretty much identical. AC kicked things off with successive 5-1 victories over weaker opposition, falling behind in each of those games to underlined their defensive frailties.
The first real test for new manager Sinisa Mihajlovic and his side came in a visit to Lyon's Stade de Gerland, where they were defeated 2-1 thanks to a late Alexandre strike. Certainly not a bad result by any means, but if the Rossoneri are serious about returning to their best this coming campaign, they will be looking to push on in the remainder of their pre-season fixtures.
In terms of Inter, they raced into a 4-0 lead against German side Stuttgarter Kickers in their summer opener, before eventually being forced to hold on for the slenderest of 4-3 victories. Roberto Mancini's charges then beat Serie A new boys Capri 4-2, while they were edged out by a late Mario Gotze strike against Bayern Munich in their last outing.
Which leads us nicely onto today, and what should be an entertaining match in Shenzhen. Both teams will be desperate to put on a show, as they always are in these major international friendly tournaments, particularly with this being the inaugural event to be held in this part of the world.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Of course, this fixture has provided many memorable fixtures and moments down the years, but in terms of recent meetings it is the red and black half of Milan that has edged things. AC are unbeaten in three matches against their great rivals, though two of those encounters in Serie A did end all square.
It has actually been six years since the two giants of the European game last met in a friendly, which saw Inter claim bragging rights by coming out on top. They finished a disappointing eighth last season, while for AC in 10th it was even worse.
PREDICTION! I'm expecting this to be a tight encounter, as two of the last three matches have been between the two, but hopefully there will be goals unlike their last coming together. Both were narrowly edged out last time, yet I'm going to back Mancini's Inter to claim a 3-1 win on this occasion.
Right, both teams are now ready as this inaugural event edges closer:
KICKOFF! We are officially underway in the Asian leg of the International Champions Cup. The atmosphere inside this 60,000-seater stadium really is superb.
Both sides weighing each other up in these early stages as you would expect, but not a great deal to shout about at the moment. The supporters are making an incredible noise still as Inter and AC take it in turns to attack.
Milan are looking the better side at the moment, attacking down the flanks and forcing Inter into making a few early clearances. The Nerazzurri will be looking to keep hold of the ball when they get a hold of it.
Poli is so determined to win the ball that he goes flying over his opponent and lands rather heavily. That has led to a break in proceedings, which we will see more of due to pre-scheduled water breaks midway through the first and second half.
AC resume control as play gets back underway, with Ely heading over Honda's well-delivered set piece. It was a difficult chance, which was always rising over the bar.
SAVE! Superb goalkeeping from Carrizo, who is quick off his line to deny Niang in a one-on-one situation. The Frenchman was played in by Honda at a tight angle, but he got a shot in at goal which Carrizo kept out with his legs.
Inter have not really done a great deal so far, as AC continue to pick up the ball in advanced positions. Mancini's men just need to keep a hold of the ball a little better, which is not easy when Longo is on his own up top.
The Rossoneri are playing some decent football at times, with Honda and Niang in particular looking to link up in and around the box. The latter attempted to loft a pass over the top for his teammate, which was just about cut out before he could get a foot to it.
"Forza Milan! Forza Milan!" come the chants from the stands. AC are looking the more likely to find a way through at the moment, with Niang in particular proving a threat. His latest burst in behind the Inter defence was only halted by the offside flag up on the far side.
SHOT! Much better from Inter, who finally keep hold of possession and get bodies forward. A superb ball over the top for youngster Pedro Delgado was initially cut out, but when it came back to him he failed to find the target by firing high over the bar.
Half a chance for Alex, who heads over the bar from eight yards out. It was never going to be easy for the Brazilian, who twisted his neck to divert a cross goalwards, and in the end he could not find the target.
Inter are keeping just one man - Longo - in front of the ball at the moment, forming a real compact defensive set-up which is making life tough for their city rivals.
AC Milan still have marquee summer signing Carlos Bacca to call upon, of course, while Inter can turn to Geoffrey Kondogbia for the second half:
Well we certainly have a more balanced game on out hands now, as Inter mount further attacks. The Nerazzurri's confidence is certainly flowing after being under the cosh for large parts, but they have yet to create any real openings which will have to change if they are to take a victory from this opening game.
We are a third of the way through this contest, which means the first water break of the afternoon. It has been evenly-balanced on the whole, yet Milan certainly look the livelier in attacking positions. Still just the one big chance so far - Niang's one-on-one which Carrizo did well to keep out.
Inter's only sight of goal was wasted by Delgado, who smashed the ball high over the bar when pouncing on a defensive error. Play is now back underway in Shenzhen following that two-minute break.
CHANCE! Niang is certainly the liveliest player on the field at the moment, and his latest link-up play with Honda ends with him firing away another shot. Ely remained solid at the back, forcing the Frenchman to take the shot on earlier than he would have liked, which he flashed wide of goal.
De Jong goes in rather heavily on an opponent, but with this being a friendly there's no real risk of a card. The pitch is massively cutting up now, incidentally, so that will require some attention at the interval.
A swift Inter counter end when Delgado gets the ball caught under his feet. Alex used his experience to force the youngster down the line, rather than inside, as the move came to a disappointing end for the Nerazzurri.
CHANCE! Milan have just squandered the best opening of the contest. Matri and Niang were clean through on goal, but perhaps having all the time in the world worked against them. The Italian looked to square the ball to his teammate six yards from goal, but by the time he did so there was defensive cover in Santon to cut out the pass.
From the resulting corner, Ely heads back across goal but narrowly off target. AC are really knocking on the door now, with half time just four minutes away.
YELLOW CARD! Matri has needlessly earned himself the game's first yellow card. His crime? Kicking the ball away when frustrated by a decision.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Longo has been living off scraps for large parts, but he turned superbly inside the box when latching on to Dimarco's sliced shot to place the ball into the bottom corner, only for the flag to correctly go up for offside moments after Matri had suffered the same fate up the other end.
HALF TIME: AC MILAN 0-0 INTER MILAN
Goalless at the end of the opening 45 minutes, then, in what has largely been an uneventful contest in Shenzhen. Milan have just about edged things, creating the game's best openings, but Mancini will not be all that concerned at the break.
Niang in particular has looked a real threat, forcing Carrizo into making a big stop with his feet and firing just wide with another. The best chance fell Matri's way, but he opted to pass to his teammate instead of taking the shot on, only for Santon to clear away.
Inter had the ball in the net at the end of the half through Longo, but other than that they have done very little in attacking areas. The Nerazzurri certainly improved as things went on, however, so maybe we can expect a different Inter side following the restart.
BENCH WATCH!
AC Milan subs: Abbiati, Antonelli, Bacca, Bonaventura, Cerci, Gori, Suso, Mauri, Mexes, Montolivo, Nocerino, Paletta
Inter Milan subs: Handanovic, Berni, Juan Jesus, Kondogbia, Palacio, Icardi, Kovacic, Guarin, Montoya, Ranocchia, D'Ambrosio, Brozovic, Hernanes
The half-time stats don't make for great reading:
Both teams have re-emerged from the tunnel, with changes aplenty by the looks of things. I'll try and bring you up-to-speed with things once play resumes.
RESTART! Inter get proceedings back underway in their traditional blue and black strip. Can they - and indeed their rivals - step things up over the next 45 minutes?
Seven changes for Milan the break in all; Lopez, De Sciglio, Ely, Alex, Poli, De Jong, Honda and Bertolacci all departing, with Abbiati, Antonelli, Bonaventura, Mauri, Mexes, Montolivo, Nocerrino and Zapata on in their place.
SAVE! A first shot on target for Inter, as Nagatomo looks to bend the ball into the corner. Abbiati was easily down to collect, however, giving him an early confidence-booster if it was needed.
Inter are knocking the ball around well at the moment as they look to take the sting out of things. Delagdo has just tried his luck from range, so already the game has a more attacking feel to it since the break.
Inter are on top now; Taider being given plenty of space on the edge of the box to get a shot away which is high and wide in the end.
This game badly needs a goal. Zapata, a half-time replacement, is the latest player to threaten to do exactly that by heading over a well-delivered free kick. Milan appear to be lining up a few subs of their own.
AC MILAN SUBS: Mihajlovic rings the changes, bringing on his two big summer signings.
GOAL! AC MILAN 1-0 INTER MILAN (MEXES)
Oh my word! I said the game needed a moment of magic, and Mexes - on the field for just 15 minutes - has scored an absolute worldy! A corner fell nicely to the centre-back on the edge of the box, and he adjusted his body superbly to fire home an exquisite volley.
That was something special from the Brazilian, which comes completely against the grain of what we have seen so far. We have seen the Brazilian do it before - an overhead kick springs to mind - but this really was superb.
The AC Milan Twitter feed describes the goal as a "corker"... use your own word:
Well since that goal both sides have pushed on in search of another, but AC are still holding onto their advantage. With all the changes made so far, we are basically watching two different teams at this stage.
Inter are forcing their rivals back a little more now, looking to create some openings of their own. The onus is very much on the Nerazzurri to find a way through in these closing 22 minutes or so.
After watching that Mexes volley for a 40th time, it's safe to say that will go down as one of the great strikes in this historic fixture. It could be the winner, too, because Milan are holding Inter off at the moment.
Things have quietened down a little following a frantic period of play. The players are currently having a little breather with the final water break, so hopefully the tempo resumes in the final quarter of the contest. Not been a great deal of action in front of goal, bar that Mexes volley which I will shut up about shortly.
Okay, we're almost ready for the fourth quarter after that final water break. Both teams are refreshed heading into the final 15 minutes, with AC Milan a goal to the good.
I'm expecting to see Inter dominate things in the closing stages as they chase down an equaliser, but that could leave gaps open at the back for AC to break into - if they have the energy, that is.
Kondogbia uses his presence well inside the area to get his head to the ball. The reported Arsenal target was also wanted by AC, of course, so he will be keen to make an impact having been introduced a little while ago.
Still pretty stop-start stuff at the moment. It has not been a game of many chances to say the least, but at least we were afforded that one incredible goal.
I've barley mentioned Bacca since he came on, but his running has given Milan an extra dimension. The summer signing was nearly in behind the Inter defence, only for Ranocchia to make a last-ditch challenge.
YELLOW CARD! Paletta is the latest player to enter the referee's book. Well, it wouldn't be a Milan derby without at least a couple of bookings, would it?!
A disappointing Palacio cross from the right is easily handled by Abbiati at his front post. Full time fast closing in, and no sign of an Inter leveller.
RED CARD! I said at the very top of this commentary that "Derby della Madonnina encounters rarely go by without incident"... step forward Nocerino. The Italian was shown red following a heavy challenge on Kondogbia, which sparked a mass coming together.
YELLOW CARD! Things have got out of hand a little now, as Fredy Guarin himself earns a yellow. It doesn't quite compare to the red that Nocerino was quite rightly shown a few moments ago.
Inter throwing everything they have at their rivals, without really troubling the Rossoneri backline. Just a minute or so left to play in China, as Hernanes diverts a cross wide of goal.
FULL TIME: AC MILAN 1-0 INTER MILAN
So there we have it, then, as AC Milan rather comfortably hold out for the victory. The first Milan derby meeting of the season was short on clear-cut chances, but it did include a sublime winning goal and a red card late on.
Inter now turn attention to their meeting with Real Madrid on Monday, while for Milan they must wait a further few days until they take on Los Blancos in the Far East. It was certainly a good run-out for both in the humid Shenzhen conditions, with plenty of youngsters also being given a chance to shine.
Well that's all from me for the time being, but there's more live commentary to come as Arsenal get their Emirates Cup campaign underway in a short while. Until then, thanks for joining!
