December 4, 2024

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Inter Milan vs. AC Milan battle for Serie A title in Italy: Fixtures, run-in, and betting odds in scudetto race

Inter Milan vs. AC Milan battle for Serie A title in Italy: Fixtures, run-in, and betting odds in scudetto race

While the Bundesliga (Bayern Munich), La Liga (Real Madrid), and Ligue 1 (PSG) title races are all wrapped as the European season stretches to the final month, the battle for the league title rages on in the Italian top flight.

Bitter rivals AC Milan and Internazionale are in a vicious fight to the end, with the scudetto on the line. The teams continue to swap positions seemingly at every turn, and fans on both sides have been left with triumphant moments to savor as well as bitter moments to forget.

With three matches remaining, AC Milan (1st, 77 points) sit atop the table holding a two-point lead. Inter (2nd, 75 points) are right behind, having lost an advantage after a disappointing loss to Bologna.

Sporting News brings you a look at the current standings, what each team did last time out, and what the season run-in looks like for both clubs.

MORE: Updated Serie A standings, Champions League and European battles

Serie A table & standings

While Inter had been in control at the top, a loss to Bologna on April 27 gave AC Milan the upper hand.

Both teams are neck-and-neck, with Napoli and Juventus still mathematically in the chase but not realistically a factor. Both Milan sides would need to lose multiple games down the stretch to even give the next two teams a prayer.

Pos. Team Pts GP W D L GF GA GD
1 Milan 77 35 23 8 4 61 30 +31
2 Inter 75 35 22 9 4 74 29 +45
3 Napoli 70 35 21 7 7 67 31 +36
4 Juventus 69 35 20 9 6 54 31 +23

MORE: Full upcoming Serie A schedule for the next few weeks

Inter and AC Milan fixtures run-in

When analyzing the final three matches of the league season, Inter has the far easier slate. Inter’s remaining opponents are all in the bottom half of the table, while AC Milan’s four remaining opponents are all in the top half of the table.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that in addition to the remaining Serie A matches, Inter also has the Coppa Italia final to navigate, taking place on Wednesday, May 11 against Juventus.

Inter Milan fixtures

Date Match Time (ET) Opponent’s
Position
Fri, May 6 Inter Milan vs. Empoli 12:45 p.m. 14th
Sun, May 15 Cagliari vs. Inter Milan 2:45 p.m. 17th
Sun, May 22 Inter Milan vs. Sampdoria TBD 15th

AC Milan fixtures

Date Match Time (ET) Opponent’s
Position
Sun, May 8 Hellas Verona vs. AC Milan 2:45 p.m. 9th
Sun, May 15 AC Milan vs. Atalanta 12 p.m. 8th
Sun, May 22 Sassuolo vs. AC Milan TBD 10th

Odds to win the Serie A title

Despite AC Milan’s lead, Inter is still the slight favorite to win the crown with one sportsbook thanks to the easier (on paper) final four games.

Team USA
(DraftKings)
Canada
(Sports Interaction)
Inter Milan -110 -105
AC Milan -125 -119
Napoli +10000 +10000
Juventus +20000 +25300

Inter and AC Milan scores

Bologna 2-1 Inter Milan

A wild and wacky finish to this match saw Inter waste its game in hand and concede the advantage atop the table to rivals AC Milan.

Ivan Perisic scored just three minutes into the match to put Inter in the lead, but they struggled in front of goal from that point on. Inter missed three big chances in the match, unable to find a way through Bologna again. The hosts, meanwhile, were persistent, and while they managed just five total shots in the match, two of them found the back of the net.

The second Bologna goal will be remembered for a long time as an Inter nightmare. A throw-in from Perisic on the left flank went back to the Inter goalkeeper Andrei Radu, who was standing in for injured starter Samir Handanovic. Under no pressure at all, Radu completely whiffed on his kick, and was reduced to watching the ball roll fatally towards the net. Nicola Sansone, who has admitted he was an AC Milan fan as a child, was there to pound the ball into the back of the net and confirm Inter’s fate.

A goalkeeping howler which could ultimately cost Inter the title.

Sansone joked after the match that he hoped AC Milan would give him a loan next season as a thank you for helping push them towards the Serie A title.

Udinese 1-2 Inter Milan

Once again it was Ivan Perisic who put Inter ahead, this time after just 12 minutes, and Lautaro Martinez doubled the advantage in the first half to put the Nerazzurri in a commanding position, the striker scoring after his penalty had come back off the post.

Ignacio Pussetto ensured a nervy finish for the visitors but there was to be no comeback for Udinese, as Inter made sure the gap at the top did not increase.

One disappointment for Inter came in the final moments when midfielder Nicolo Barella limped off with a knee injury that caused some concern in the dugout.

Lazio 1-2 AC Milan

While Inter fell late in its last match, AC Milan did just the opposite. Ciro Immobile put Lazio 1-0 up in just the fourth minute on a cross from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, giving AC Milan some early trouble.

The Rossoneri would not be troubled, however. Olivier Giroud found the equalizer minutes after the break, and they poured on the pressure from there. Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench late, and you knew he would be influential, grabbing the assist on Sandro Tonali’s impressive 92nd minute winner.

AC Milan 1-0 Fiorentina

Milan had earlier put the pressure on their city rivals after battling to victory over Fiorentina at San Siro.

Just four of the 21 shots in the match were on target, although that doesn’t include a spectacular opening goal from Theo Hernandez that was disallowed due to an earlier offside from Junior Messias.

Milan was indebted to goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who produced a remarkable save to keep out Arthur Cabral’s header with around 14 minutes remaining. It proved to be a timely moment of brilliance as, just eight minutes later, Rafael Leao pounced on an errant pass from Pietro Terracciano to secure a valuable victory.

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