AC Milan seems to be peaking at the perfect time as they aim to win Serie A for the first time in four years.
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The 3-0 victory away at Bologna on February 3rd was arguably the Rossoneri’s finest performance of the season thus far, with goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christopher Nkunku, and Adrien Rabiot securing three massive points in Emilia-Romagna.
The victory was Max Allegri’s side’s third win in a run of four games against testing opposition. Firstly, Milan were clinical in their 3-1 victory away at Cesc Fabregas’ high-flying Como, soaking up pressure for long periods before counter-attacking goals from Nkunku and Rabiot (two) sealed all three points.
They would back that up with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Lecce at the San Siro before going on to secure a creditable draw away at Roma. Now, the victory against Bologna ensures that the Rossoneri are still alive and kicking in the title race.
Inter remain favourites
But the fact remains that the Rossoneri are still very much second-favorites, with their arch cross-city rivals Inter currently eight points clear at Serie A’s summit, albeit having played a game more.
Their recent 5-0 drubbing of Sassuolo was their fifth straight victory and their 11th win in their last 12, a run that stretches all the way back to Milan’s famous 1-0 Derby della Madonnina triumph back in November.
As we head into the run-in, it’s the Nerazzurri who find themselves as the clear favorites to reclaim the Scuddeto this term, and as they embark upon their quest to be crowned champions, a new outlet will be following their – and Milan’s – efforts all the way to the thrilling end.
That site is the brand-new Ozoon sportsbook, whose highly anticipated release is now just weeks away. The budding outlet will be bringing football fans unrivalled coverage of Serie A with unbeatable odds, everyone’s favourite markets, and a slew of promotions for new players.
But what will the site have to say about the all-Milan title race as we hurtle towards the season’s conclusion?
Milan supporters may well be somewhat pessimistic looking at that monstrous gap to Inter at the top of the table. But what position did they find themselves in after 23 games back in the 2021/22 season, the last time the Rossoneri were crowned champions? Let’s take a look.
Milan playing catch-up (again)
Four years ago, Stefano Pioli’s Milan found themselves in a similarly difficult position. Matchday 23 of the 2021-22 season saw the Rossoneri play out their second straight game without a win, leaving them playing catch-up to rivals and reigning champions Inter.
Milan faced off against Juventus at the San Siro on January 23rd that season, aiming for a win that would close the gap to the Nerazzurri at the summit. Instead, the best they could manage was a goalless draw, ensuring that the gap was increased to four points.
That disappointment followed up a disastrous 2-1 home defeat to lowly Spezia from the week prior, a game in which Milan threw away a 1-0 halftime lead to ultimately lose 2-1 courtesy of Emanuel Gyasi’s stunning 96th-minute winner.
Pioli’s side was already in trouble even before those two games. Home defeats to both Napoli and Sassuolo, as well as a loss away at Fiorentina in the run-up to Christmas, meant that they were already firm outsiders to reclaim the Scudetto for the first time in 11 years.
But that run of back-to-back games without a win against Spezia and Juve inspired a return to form that no one could have anticipated.
The march to the title
The second Derby della Madonnina of the season came on matchday 24, with Inter the designated home team. The Nerazurri were the favourites, and victory would have sent them seven points clear with 14 games remaining.
It looked as though that favourites tag was bang on the money when Ivan Perišić gave the hosts a first-half lead. Throughout the second half, however, Milan showed the kind of fight that their team had not shown in years, and they were duly rewarded for their endeavour.
Veteran striker Olivier Giroud helped himself to a quick-fire three-minute brace, handing the Rossoneri a scarcely believable 2-1 lead, and it was a lead that they wouldn’t surrender. The victory cut the deficit at the top of the Serie A table down to just one point, and Pioli’s side wouldn’t squander the opportunity.
Throughout the final 13 games of the campaign, Milan wouldn’t lose a single contest. They won ten of those remaining games, including the last six on the bounce, culminating with that 3-0 victory at Sassuolo on the final day of the campaign, the win that sealed a first Scudetto since 2011.