While Milan have topped the Serie A charts in recent weeks, Inter were seen as the uncrowned leaders and consensus favorites for promotion Scudetto Title before the postponed away game against Bologna.
However, a bizarre evening at the Renato Dall’Ara changed the whole scene. The reigning champions succumbed to defeat by their Emilia hosts led by a caretaker, while Ionut Radu left the pitch in tears after a fatal howl.
With four rounds to go, we finally have a clear vision for the title race, with the two heavyweight contenders evenly matched in terms of number of games played. So which Milan side is the favorite to lift the Scudetto Cup at the end of the season?
We’ll try to analyze the situation at the top of the table from different angles.
After Round 34, Milan are leaders with 74 points, while Inter are second with 72 points Derby of the Madonna ended in a 1-1 draw, Olivier Giroud’s brace in the second leg turning the tide Rossoneris To like. So if both sides finish the season on the same score, Stefano Pioli’s men would be crowned champions thanks to their superior head-to-head record.
Therefore, we can say that on top of their two extra points, Milan have another theoretical half point in their pocket that could make the difference in the end.
Advantage: Milan
As mentioned, Milan currently lead by two points while also having the head-to-head advantage. This means that the Diavolo can win the league if they accumulate another 10 points in the last four rounds, regardless of Inter’s results.
But of course that’s easier said than done. Let’s look at the remaining games of the two title contenders.
Milan: Fiorentina (H), Verona (A), Atalanta (H), Sassuolo (A)
Inter: Udinese (A), Empoli (H), Cagliari (A), Sampdoria (H)
At first glance, one would immediately assume that the Rossoneri have a thornier path to the title, and it’s hard to argue against such a conclusion.
However, history has taught us that in the final rounds of the season it might be easier to play against midfield clubs who are already planning their holidays than against dismal sides from the lower tiers who are fighting for their lives.
therefore, the Nerazzurri could regret playing against Cagliari and even Sampdoria who could also be involved in the relegation battle.
Still, the general scenery remains too obvious to discuss and we simply have to admit that Milan will face significantly tougher competition compared to Inter.
Advantage: Inter
This season we witness a battle between two managers eager to claim their first league title. Stefano Pioli is obviously more experienced as a tactician but Simone Inzaghi has matured quickly during his tenure at Lazio.
As for the players, the Rossoneri Squad features two proven winners in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud but the rest of the squad generally lacks experience at the highest level. Several Milan stars have only made their Champions League debut this season.
On the other hand, Inter has a slight advantage in terms of battle-hardened veterans. Although Antonio Conte’s side met minimal resistance on their way to the title last season, these players know what it takes to reach the finish line.
Advantage: Inter
The mental aspect is perhaps one of the most undermined variables in sport. In early April, Inter got a good dose of adrenaline after beating Juventus in the Bundesliga Derby d’Italia. On the other side, their crosstown rivals dropped points left and right.
So when flying up Beneamata Roma shrugged last weekend, the writing was on the wall. That sentiment was about to be confirmed as Milan struggled to breach Lazio’s wall at the Olympico the following day.
Nevertheless, the Diavolos were rewarded for their daring performance with a last-minute win from Sandro Tonali, whose goal completely changed the mood in the fashion capital.
In fact, Inter appeared tense, uninspiring and confused during their ill-fated trip to Bologna. One could argue that Inzaghi’s men would have been much more relaxed if their rivals had lost points to them Biancocelesti.
With the momentum in their favor, Milan undoubtedly have the advantage in this instance.
All in all, this is certainly the closest Scudetto Race that we have had for a long time and how Calcio Fanatics, we can feel blessed to witness such a mesmerizing battle between two giants who have awakened.
Although the schedule could play into that Nerazzurris This doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t drop points in their remaining games, especially since their morale is at an all-time low following the Great Collapse at Dall’Ara.
And while Milan are expected to stumble against their upcoming opponent at some point, their two-point lead (plus superior head-to-head running) might be just enough for that Rossoneri to cross the finish line first and hand the trophy to Alessio Romagnoli.
