Serie A: Milan’s Big Title Chance

AC Milan vs Fiorentina

Inter Milan’s shock 2-1 loss to Bologna on Wednesday night has handed the Serie A title initiative to AC Milan. And when Fiorentina visit the San Siro on Sunday, I Rossoneri know this is a chance they cannot afford to mess up.

Head coach Stefano Pioli senses that Milan have a great opportunity to win a first Scudetto in 11 years and the latest Serie A 2022 betting odds have just shifted in the Rossoneri’s favour.

They battled to a 2-1 win away to Lazio last week as midfield ace Sandro Tonali scored a last-gasp winner and now Inter’s failure in Bologna has lifted the red and black side of Milan to the mantle of favourites with four games to go.     

Vincenzo Italiano’s Fiorentina come into the game on the back of a 4-0 home thrashing at the hands of Udinese, a result which dropped the Viola to seventh in the league table on goal difference, handing the last automatic Europa League place to Lazio.

Talking Points

Milan mix youth and experience with success

I Rossoneri fans saw their side finish second last season though the achievement was spoiled by the sight of Inter picking up the 2021 Scudetto, but their moment may be just around the corner as Pioli has combined youth and experience to great effect this season. The incredible Zlatan Ibrahimovic, at the ripe old age of 40, is still writing the news headlines while former Chelsea and Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is joint top scorer.

Meanwhile, alongside the lifelong Milan fan Tonali at 21 years of age, Pioli has put his faith in other young guns who have delivered. 22-year-old Rafael Leao is level with Giroud on nine league goals and 12 in all competitions and the left-sided Leao has also made five assists.

The young Portugal star loves to take on opposition defences, making 91 successful dribbles this season and he links up well with 22-year-old attacking midfielder Brahim Diaz.  

The breakout star in defence is 21-year-old Pierre Kalulu who was snapped up from Ligue 1 side Lyon. At centre-back, he has been a revelation, making 33 appearances in the absence of the injured Simon Kjaer – also making three assists and scoring a goal.

Kalulu is very quick, confident on the ball and with a pass accuracy of 90 per cent, surely has a big future with Milan and France.  

With only one defeat in 15 games, a Coppa Italia defeat to Inter, the momentum is with the Rossoneri. Napoli are still just about in the hunt but it would take a collapse from both Milan clubs to open the door for the Azzurri and Pioli is not about to let that happen.

Viola’s Europa challenge in danger of fading

At this stage of last season, Fiorentina were 13^th in the league table on 35 points and now they are seventh with 56. It’s a big upturn in the fortunes of the Viola and Italiano will hope to guide them to European competition, but the loss to Udinese was a major blow.

La Viola like to play passing football and have averaged over 50-per cent possession in matches this season and significantly more against bottom half clubs.

But for Italiano’s tea, good Serie A 2022 results may be hard to come by in their last five games as they face Milan, Roma, and Juventus. Having lost star striker Dusan Vlahovic to the Bianconeri, Fiorentina have had to find another way of winning and Italiano has asked his midfielders to play higher up the field.

Former Arsenal star Lucas Torreira has had success in an advanced role, scoring five goals including crucial strikes against Venezia and Inter Milan. The 26-year-old is clever in possession and likes to take a shot from distance, while he’s not afraid to get stuck in, picking up seven yellows and a red card this season.

Meanwhile, on the right side of the midfield, 24-year-old Argentine Nicolas Gonzalez was signed from Stuttgart and he has scored four goals and made six assists. He’s an adventurous forward, willing to take on his man but also tracks back willingly to help his defence. 

History

With 22 wins to 16 in all competitions since 1995, Milan have had the better of the head-to-heads. But when the two teams met in Florence back in November, the Viola edged a seven-goal thriller as Vlahovic scored a brace for the hosts while Ibrahimovic bagged a couple for Milan. 

I Rossoneri are unbeaten in eight games at the San Siro and I’m backing them to make it nine.

Betting Tip

Fiorentina are at SBOTOP odds of 2.04 with that 0.75 goal start. And while in Torreira and Gonzalez they have some good creative players, the hosts have a greater depth in their squad and some young players hungry for success.

 

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