The Serie A title race is set to go down to the wire. With the final weekend of the season on the horizon, first-place AC Milan and second-place Inter Milan are separated by just two points.
Due to Inter’s superior goal difference of +49, Milan – whose goal difference is +35 – can’t afford to slip up this weekend.
9️⃣0️⃣ minutes that are worth a whole season 💫🇮🇹#SerieA💎 #WeAreCalcio pic.twitter.com/DEhCo4qKpn— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) May 16, 2022
9️⃣0️⃣ minutes that are worth a whole season 💫🇮🇹#SerieA💎 #WeAreCalcio pic.twitter.com/DEhCo4qKpn
Of course, Milan have the upper hand ahead of the final round of fixtures. But if Milan lose and Inter win, the blue side of the city will be celebrating come Sunday night.
Let’s start by looking at Milan, who face a potentially tricky away clash against free-scoring Sassuolo on the final weekend.
Under the guidance of Stefano Pioli, the Rossoneri have lost just four of their 37 league games this season – picking up 25 wins and eight draws along the way.
Milan boast the joint-best defensive record in Italy’s top tier, having conceded a measly 31 goals this term. Only third-place Napoli can match that record.
You probably won’t be surprised to learn that Mike Maignan has kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper this season, achieving 16 shutouts in 31 appearances.
Milan’s last scudetto triumph came all the way back in 2011. Can they move level with Inter on 19 Serie A titles this weekend?
It’s fair to say that Inter have the more favourable fixture on Sunday, with fifteenth-place Sampdoria visiting the San Siro.
Still, Simone Inzaghi and his players cannot afford to underestimate Sampdoria in any way following a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Like Milan, the Nerezzurri have only suffered four Serie A defeats this term – securing 24 wins and nine draws in the process.
Inzaghi's men are also the top scorers in the division, having netted a mammoth 81 goals in 37 outings (2.2 goals per game).
Lautaro Martinez (21 goals, 3 assists) and Edin Dzeko (13 goals, 7 assists) have starred, as well as Hakan Calhanoglu (7 goals, 12 assists) and Ivan Perisic (7 goals, 7 assists).
After ending their decade-long wait for a scudetto last term, Inter will be desperate to defend their crown this season.
There is no denying that Inter’s home clash against Sampdoria is easier than Milan’s away trip to Sassuolo. That said, Milan head to Sassuolo on a five-game winning streak.
At the end of the day, the two Milanese giants have given us a memorable Serie A title race this season. Neither team deserves to end up on the losing side, but there can only be one winner.