Massimiliano Allegri’s stamp on AC Milan is already being seen out on the field, with the numbers showing a big defensive improvement.
La Gazzetta dello Sport recall how Bologna didn’t even manage a shot on target during Sunday’s game. The comparison with last season’s team, which started terribly defensively, is rather startling.
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Paulo Fonseca’s men after three games had already conceded 53 shots in total, and the opponents were averaging 1.79xG (Expected Goals) per game. It’s impossible to win matches consistently like that, as the Rossoneri found out.
Those numbers have changed: this season, opponents have only shot on Milan’s goal 16 times, and their xG figure is stuck at 0.23 per game.
The best in Europe
Milan are ‘the best defensive team in Europe’ at the start of 2025-26, the paper adds. The level of their opponents has an impact, but the trend is clear and not can no longer be considered random.
In the five major leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1) 98 teams compete, and the other 97 have figures that aren’t even close. The second-highest number of shots conceded is St. Pauli, second in the Bundesliga: 23 shots conceded, seven more than Milan.
With expected goals the comparison is even more impressive. Milan have 0.23xG conceded per game as mentioned, while Nantes are second at 0.46 and Athletic Bilbao is third at 0.50. Newcastle and Bayern are just above that figure.
The conclusion is obvious: any team in Europe gives at least twice as many scoring chances as Allegri’s. If they keep going like this, Mike Maignan and Pietro Terracciano might need to blow the dust off their gloves.
Not only that, but before the Bologna game we were first in Serie A at the number of shots on the opponents’ goal, and we had plenty against Bologna as well, so if we’re not longer first we are at least among the top.
Sure, we had easy opponents, but we’re at the top both defensively and offensively.
The best part for me, however, is that we’ve moved away from continuously passing the ball between our defenders and goalkeeper, in our own half. The stats prove that nothing good comes from that
That’s good start in 3 matches. But the catch will be Bianconeri aka Udinese, the Inter Beater without Di Natale assist. Dunno why Udine always give us hard t**e. IYKWIM.
lol for this squad there are no easy opponents, last season was a flip of the coin to see which Milan would be playing that day
Can’t lose if you don’t concede😉
When I remember that horror under Fonseca. It was like watching an amateur team.
See, our average cb’s have the best defensive record. That’s what happens when you have a good midfield and are tactically organized
It is better but we played Against Cremonese, Lecce and Bologna. Not really Man City or Inter.
Surely we have improve cus we started with small teams last season too
“Milan are ‘the best defensive team in Europe’ at the start of 2025-26”
After playing Cremonese, Lecce and Bologna. Not a single top team. Do I need to repeat what I say every time?
Norway is the best attacking nation in Europe by far? They destroyed Moldova 11-1..
Let us play against Udinese, Napoli and Juventus.
Congratulations on their defense However the attack also needs to be productive
Huge improvement over last year, but ‘best in europe’ is mostly due to poor opposition.
The nagging house wives association.
Stop the hype! Its only 3 matches.
Let’s see if we still have the best defence after the next 3 or 4 games!! If we do then we are taking!!!
*talking