In the hunt for the Champions League places, the outcome of the six-pointers against direct rivals can make all the difference.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport write, winning head-to-head matches against the competition jostling for the top four spots in the table – those that qualify for the Champions League, and if there’s even a glimpse of the Scudetto, all the better – is important in many ways.
Not least, it’s a valuable insurance policy that can be used at the end of the season: if you finish level on points, a better head-to-head result equates to a better standing in the standings. It could be the difference between crossing the threshold of the top four or being left out.
After 11 games, it’s still too early to paint a realistic picture, but observing the direct clashes among the top six in the standings (the positions that grant access to European competition), we can begin to discern a trend where Milan are gaining an edge.
Rossoneri resurgence
Vincenzo Italiano’s Bologna have played three of these head-to-head clashes, with one win and two defeats. The victory came against the champions Napoli in the last round, while they lost to Roma and Milan. Average points per game: 1.
Inter have also played three such matches. They were beaten 4-3 in a thriller against Juventus and they lost away against Napoli, but more recently beat Roma away from home. They also average 1 point per game.
Napoli too have played three games against sides in the top six. They lost to Milan despite playing for nearly an hour with a man advantage, they lost to Bologna and beat Inter as mentioned. The same 1 point per game average emerges.
Roma are joint-top with Inter and yet they two are on 1PPG. The defeats came by slender 1-0 margins against the two Milanese clubs, and their victory came against Bologna in round one, also by the same scoreline.
Juventus are on the outside looking in at the moment when it comes to the top four spots, but they average two points per game against top six sides. They have beaten Inter and they drew 0-0 with Milan, losing zero.
Finally we come to the Rossoneri, who have won three, drawn one and lost zero of their four ‘direct clashes’. The wins, as mentioned, were over Napoli, Roma and Bologna. The draw was against Juventus, and they have conceded just one goal, from the penalty spot scored by De Bruyne.
As we’ve said Rabiot he is our most important player and we see that we should have won all the games with if not Pulisic and Leoo had bottled it in Turin and without we’ve sure beaten the big clubs but not as comfy like we did against Bologna and Napoli before Estupidnan get the red and after we’ve managed to drop points Ito Atalanta, Parma and Pisa anf only beaten Roma and Fiorentina. I think we can go on a run if cause sure we have Inter, Lazio, Lazio but after that okay Lazio is a easy game okaybut after that we face Sassoulo, Cagliari, Hellas Verona, Genoa and Torino which is fine games we can and should win so if we them and the Inter and Lazio games (which we can) its seven straight wins and that means a top spot (probably) so Milan have a golden chance now and also bench Estupinan and De Winter u cant stand them another match and in the derby they will get bullied so bench them
Definitely missed Tomori against Parma.
DeWinter should be a sub and Coppa Italia player only.