AC Milan’s fixture list was revealed last night, and there is a lot to take in from it, looking at it objectively.
Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan will start the season at San Siro against Cremonese, as was revealed yesterday, and the need will be the begin the season smartly and maturely. The season will not be won in the first few weeks, of course. So, the Rossoneri must start as they mean to go on.
Let’s have a little look at some areas of interest.
The big games
So, we need to start with the big games, of course. It has been well documented how the Diavolo struggled against the top eight this season, and this is why they had such an underwhelming season.
However, these games are not going anywhere, and the probability is that they are not going to get any easier. Therefore, Milan must be the ones to improve on last season’s performances, and it should not be difficult to do, all things considered.
➤ The first of the top teams that the Rossoneri will face is Bologna, on Matchday 3 at San Siro; the reverse for this game is Matchday 23.
➤ Napoli are the next big challenge, and again, it starts at San Siro, this time on Matchday 5, then, the Diavolo will travel to Naples towards the end of the year on Matchday 31.
➤ Juventus follow directly after on Matchday 6, with Milan travelling to Turin, whilst the away fixture will take place at the end of April, on Matchday 34.
➤ Atalanta host the Rossoneri on Matchday 9, extending the tough period, and they will play the return game at San Siro on Matchday 36, the penultimate home game of the season.
➤ It’s Roma on Mathchday 10, as they travel to Milano, whilst the return game takes place at the Olimpico at the end of January.
➤ Lazio will, like their city rivals Roma, face the Diavolo away from home first, on the last weekend of November. Then, in the middle of March, they will host Allegri’s side at the Olimpico.
➤ Then, we have the big two, the games against Inter. The first game of the two will take place with the Rossoneri as the away side on November 23 (Matchday 12). Milan will then host the return game at San Siro on March 8 (Matchday 28).
Tough periods
In terms of periods of difficulty, it is difficult to pick out only one. Games come quite thick and fast, and there is not really a time when you would pick the Rossoneri to win a lot of games consecutively. Though maybe that is a hangover from this season.
➤ Matchday 3-7 stands out as a bit of a rough patch, with Milan facing Bologna, Napoli, Juventus and Fiorentina in the space of five games. Certainly not the nicest run there.
➤ Matchday 9-13 is also quite difficult, with Atalanta kicking off a run of games with Roma, Inter and Lazio included. A first derby involved in those proceedings is quite tough, admittedly.
➤ Matchday 20-24 again looks a bit challenging, with Fiorentina, Lecce, Roma, Bologna and Como facing the Diavolo. It certainly is not the worst set of five. However, there are definitely nicer runs in the season.
Time away?
The final period of interest is the time between January 10 and February 8, when Milan will not be able to use the San Siro. It remains to be seen what the outcome of this will be, but games abroad have been reported as a possibility.
Only two games are at risk here for the Rossoneri, with Lecce and Como both scheduled to face the Diavolo at San Siro. Further clarification will be needed.
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