MY ACCOUNT
Milan will attempt to recover from a miserable January when they do battle with in-form Inter in a derby at San Siro on Sunday.
The Rossoneri have suffered three consecutive defeats in all competitions, conceding 12 goals in the process to lose the Supercoppa Italiana and leave their hopes of retaining the Serie A title in tatters.
Stefano Pioli’s side have slipped to fifth, but a victory this weekend would put them above their second-placed city rivals.
Either way, there are appears to be no stopping Napoli in their quest for the Scudetto, with the runaway leaders holding a 13-point advantage at the summit.
Stats Perform picks out the standout Opta numbers for a derby Milan fans may be dreading given their alarming slump.
Milan suffer the January blues
It has certainly not been a happy new year for Milan so far, and a 5-2 home defeat to Sassuolo last Sunday saw them sink to a new low.
That came on the back of a 4-0 hammering at Lazio, and Inter also capitalised on their defensive frailties to win the Supercoppa Italiana with a 3-0 victory last month.
Milan have extended the season of goodwill into 2023, and they made unwanted history in January, with the 18 goals they conceded more than they had previously shipped in any single month since records began in 1929-30.
The last time they lost four games in a row was between January and February 2017 under Vincenzo Montella.
Inter to deny Milan a long-awaited double?
Inter have won their past two games in all competitions and were able to keep defender Milan Skriniar during the transfer window, although he is expected to join Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season.
Simone Inzaghi’s side have lost their past two Serie A derbies against Milan, but they have not suffered three losses in a row to their fierce rivals since a run of four defeats on the spin between November 2002 and February 2004.
Rafael Leao scored twice in a 3-2 win when Milan were the home team in the Serie A clash in September, and they will be striving to complete a first league double over Inter since the 2010-11 campaign.
Nerazzurri’s strong home form built on solid foundations
While Milan can’t stop conceding goals, Inter have had no such trouble at home in Serie A this season.
They have only let five goals in at home in the league, the joint-best record along with Roma.
Only Napoli (28) have earned more points at home this season than Inzaghi’s men, who have 24 from 10 games – winning eight and losing two.
More derby delight for Giroud?
Milan striker Olivier Giroud has scored in both Serie A derbies he has played in against Inter.
The France international could become the first player to find the back of the net in his first three derbies for Milan in the three-points-for-a-win era (since 1994-95).
Giroud was on target in the drubbing at the hands of Sassuolo last weekend, that goal taking his tally in Serie A to six for the season.
