CorSport: Why Milan’s record against bottom and top-half teams is ‘inexplicable’

After games against 17th and 18th in the league, AC Milan will face a team in the top half tonight in Como. The record so far suggests that might be a good thing.

As Corriere dello Sport (via MilanPress) write this morning, Milan’s performances against teams in the bottom half and the top half are equally inexplicable. Why? The Rossoneri have won most of the games they should have found difficult, and not beaten the teams fighting relegation.

So far, Milan have won against Inter, Napoli, Bologna, Roma, Lazio and drawn away from home with Juventus and Atalanta. In September, truth be told, nobody would have expected this, especially after the home defeat against Cremonese in their Serie A debut.

Milan’s performance against smaller teams continues to be astonishing. The Diavolo have so far earned 20 points in eight matches against top 10 teams, with the only remaining opponent being Como tonight.

They have 20 points from the other 10 games, but in that case, having played 11 matches including Fiorentina twice. The points average against the top 10 is very high 2.5 points per game, while against the bottom 10 it drops to 2.

It is not bad considering last year’s eighth-placed finish, but it could be much better. Inter are currently at +6, but a win today would reduce the Nerazzurri’s lead to +3, which with half of the season to play means anything is possible.