If Milan win the title, they will have to thank more their defense more than their attack. They are 5th in scoring in the league, with 61 goals. Instead, they have the second-best rearguard. They have conceded 30 times, one more than Inter. They lead Serie A in clean sheets with 16, 2 more than their main foes.
The Rossoneri had not been this airtight since the 2011-2022 season, when their goalies had been beaten 28 times after 35 rounds, La Gazzetta dello Sport relays. It was not enough to take home the Scudetto back then, though. They have turned it on in particular from March on. Mike Maignan has surrendered just one goal in the last eight matches, on a point-blank finish by Ciro Immobile at Stadio Olimpico.
Milan have the second-best defense in Europe in 2022, having given up eight goals. They trail only Liverpool in such sense, which allowed six. The Reds are also the only side in the top five leagues riding an undefeated streak longer than the Rossoneri, which have not lost in 13 games.
The Stefano Pioli-led team fully hit their stride in the back once Pierre Kalulu started partnering with Fikayo Tomori with regularity. The French youngster has gotten the nod in the last eight rounds. He initially took advantage of Alessio Romagnoli suffering an injury. Thanks to his strong showings, he stayed in the XI once the captain recovered. Milan will look to ride their momentum in Verona, which is dubbed ‘fatal’ for them because it cost them the title twice, in 1973 and 1990.