Last season AC Milan led the league for most of the season before being overtaken by Inter early in the new year, and they will be hoping the script has been flipped this time around.
Calciomercato.com recalls how 2020-21 was a season dominated for the first part by Milan, who surrendered first place after a 2-0 loss against Spezia when Inter beat Lazio 3-1 and then the positions were solidified by the 3-0 derby loss a way later.
The Nerazzurri remained in the lead for the next 12 days, winning the Scudetto at a canter in the end as Milan ended up slipping into a battle just to stay in the top four, which they did thanks to huge wins against Juventus and Atalanta.
This time around, Milan shared top spot with Napoli for a month between October and November, then lost it in mid-December after the draw in the last minute against Udinese. Now they have regained it (albeit with Inter having a game in hand) and as it was last season, the derby could be the definitive turning point.
If Simone Inzaghi’s side beat Bologna then they will go top but with no ideas when that game will be replayed, Pioli’s side can enjoy being top of the standings for a while. From the beginning of the 2020-21 Serie A season to today, over 63 rounds of action (38 games last season plus 25 this season), Milan have been top of the table for 33 of them which is more than anyone else.
It may become necessary to overtake Inter again, or the opportunity might arise to build a lead and this time to defend it until the end.
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