Since finishing second in Serie A in the 2011/12 season, AC Milan have almost disappeared from the lips and fingertips of those reporting on the Serie A title race.
In 2012/13, they finished third in the table and there has been a dramatic decline since then, with the Italian giants finishing a lowly tenth in 2014/15 and seventh in the 2015/16 season. You must go back to 1997/98, to find he last time Milan finished tenth in Serie A but the following season the club bounced back better than ever, by winning the Scudetto. Could another dramatic turnaround be completed in 2016/17?
As things stand, prior to the big match against the league leaders on Saturday 22nd October, Milan are third in Serie A, with 16 points from 8 games played, 5 behind Juventus. Following a difficult start to the season, with two defeats in the first three games, Vincenzo Montella has turned things around and the Rossoneri are undefeated in their last five, four of those being wins and one a draw, at Fiorentina.
Last weekend, Milan travelled to Chievo Verona, a team who were undefeated in their last twelve home matches. However, with the match locked at 0-0 just before half-time, Juraj Kucka struck with a free-kick for Montella’s team, to send them into the dressing room 1-0 up at the interval. Almost straight from the kick-off, Milan got their second, with forward M'Baye Niang driving home in the 46th minute. Chievo pulled one back through Valter Birsa but a heavily deflected shot from Carlos Bacca sealed the points for Milan in injury time. It was the first time since 2013, Milan have left Chievo with more than a point to show for their efforts.
At the final whistle, the Milan players looked happy, which is not something which has been said with much regularity of the past few years. They celebrated, together with the fans and there is a real sense they could be about to return to the top of Italian football and grace the Champions League once more. However, if this is going to happen, Milan need to produce a great performance and result against Juventus, on Saturday night.
Such has been the dominance of Juventus over Milan in recent years, you must go back ten matches, to November 2012, to find the last time Milan defeated the Bianconeri. Not only is this a sign of how Juventus have dominated Milan, it is a sign of how Juventus have dominated Serie A. Juventus have won the last five Serie A titles, with Milan being the last team to win it outside Turin, in 2010/11.
Not only do Milan have the pressure of their own history and expectations weighing down on them in this game, they have the hopes of practically every other team and supporter, outside of Juventus. Each will be clinging on to the hope Milan can defeat Max Allegri’s team and upset the applecart at the top of Serie A.
Is the Scudetto within reach for Milan this season? Maybe but in the words of their manager, Vincenzo Montella, "I can feel the air of Europe now" Montella told Mediaset. "On Saturday we play against Juve, one of the best teams in Europe.
"Is it a Scudetto clash? Certain situations are not for us, we are keeping a low profile. Milan have been out of Europe for too long.
"I see the lads smiling now, as they needed confidence and good results help."
If Milan’s players are still smiling after the final whistle in the San Siro on Saturday night, talk of something special will surely follow.