AC Milan recorded a victory against their bitter rivals Inter Milan at the International Champions Cup in China thanks to a volley from French defender Philippe Mexes this afternoon.

The best chances of an otherwise quiet first half fell the way of French striker M'Baye Niang, though he was unable to take any of them.

AC Milan's French defender Philippe Mexes celebrates with team mates after scoring a goal during the International Champions Cup football match between AC Milan and Inter Milan in Shenzhen on July 25, 2015 © Getty Images

Keisuke Honda teed up the Milan striker early on, but Inter goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo kept his effort out with his legs.

Niang then fired wide from another Honda cross, before Alessandro Matri and Samuele Longo both had efforts ruled out for offside.

Inter started the second half the stronger, but found themselves behind just after the hour mark when Mexes adjusted his body and acrobatically volleyed home from the edge of the area directly from a Milan corner.

New Milan signing Carlos Bacca could have doubled the lead seconds later but was denied by Carrizo, leaving Mexes's strike as the difference between the two sides.

Antonio Nocerino's late red card for a lunging tackle on Geoffrey Kondogbia was the only sour mark for Sinisa Mihajlovic as his first Milan derby ended with victory.