Earlier today, AC Milan’s full fixture list for the 2022-23 Serie A season was officially unveiled and we have now had a bit of time to dissect it.
You can see the full list from Rounds 1 to 38 here, which begins with what is on paper a winnable home game against Udinese at San Siro to kick off the Scudetto defence, although it must be noted that the Friulians have a habit of playing the role of party spoilers in that fixture.
Tricky away trips to Atalanta and Sassuolo are either side of the Round 3 home game against Bologna, and then comes the first derby of the season. Milan are the home team for that, just as they will host Napoli and Juventus in Rounds 7 and 9.
Inter have a comparatively easier start on paper as they face Lecce, Cremonese and Spezia before the derby, though they must also face Lazio away too, and then comes the first derby.
Milan are unbeaten in each of their last six derbies against Inter played on Matchday 5 (W4 D2). The most recent was a 1-0 win thanks to Ronaldinho’s first Serie A goal on 28 September 2008.
What is worth noting is that the first round of Champions League group stage games is scheduled for the midweek after the Derby della Madonnina clash in Round 5, so the draw each side gets in that could be key. Milan will also play their second group game before the away match against Napoli.
Inter play Roma, Sassuolo, Napoli and Atalanta in their last five matches, while the Rossoneri have Roma, Lazio and Juventus in their last seven rounds – two of them away form home. Meanwhile, both derbies will be out of the way by Round 21 which rules out a 2010-11 style potential title momentum shifter.
There were some very tough stretches of fixtures last season, but this time the hardest back-to-back (on paper, and this is subjective) that Milan have is probably Atalanta at home and then Fiorentina away in Rounds 24 and 25.
Another thing worth noting is that the Rossoneri face Juventus in their last away game of the season (Round 37). Not only could that be huge in either the Scudetto or the top four race, but it is also on what will be the 20 year anniversary of when the Rossoneri beat the Bianconeri at Old Trafford in the 2002-03 Champions League final.
