AC Milan win 2021/22 Serie A title: Key numbers
What's the story
AC Milan beat Sassuolo 3-0 on gameweek 38 to end their 11-year long wait for the Scudetto in Serie A. Olivier Giroud scored a brace, while mid-fielder Frank Kessie netted one in the 36th-minute mark to help Milan go 3-0 up before half-time. The match was done and dusted here as Milan kept pushing for a fourth. Here are the key numbers.
Match
Milan thrash Sassuolo 3-0
Giroud upped Rossoneri 1-0 at the 17th-minute mark, slotting one past Sassuolo's goal-keeper Andrea Consigli. Sassuolo's Gian Ferrari lost possession in the penalty box only for Rafael Leao to pass one to Giroud, who finished the sequence for Milan. Kessie then added another in the 36th minute in his final game for Milan. Notably, Milan had 12 shots on target in the match.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Milan's resurgence needs all the praise. From being out of the top four between 2013-19 to finishing second last season, and now being crowned winners. But, it wasn't an easy run for Stefano Pioli's men as they faced a neck-to-neck battle with Inter for the prized title. Milan are now tied with Inter for the joint-second-most league titles in Serie A (19).
Records
Notable team records scripted by AC Milan
As per Opta, Milan are the youngest side to win the Scudetto in Serie A in three points for a win era. The average age of players in the 2021/22 campaign was 26y 97d. They won a trophy for the first time after a wait of 1,976 days since the Italian Super Cup against Juventus on December 23, 2016, in Doha.
Standings
Milan finish with 86 points
Milan won 26 matches, eight draws, and four losses. They scored 69 goals, fourth-most after Inter (84), Lazio (77), and Napoli (74). They conceded 31 goals, the joint-fewest alongside third-placed Napoli. Milan pocketed a total of 86 points. Inter rounded up at the second spot with 84 points, followed by Napoli (79), Juventus (70), and Lazio (64).
Ibrahimovic
Ibrahimovic bags another Serie A honor
Zlatan Ibrahimovic pocketed his second league honor with Milan. He had earlier won the league title with Milan in 2010-11. Ibra, who returned to Milan in the 2019-20 season, has now won five Serie A honors in total. He has also won the league thrice with Inter. This was his third trophy with Milan. He bagged eight goals in 22 league appearances in 2021-22.
Performers
The top performers for AC Milan
Rafael Leao was the best performer for Milan in the 2021-22 season. He bagged 11 goals and eight assists. Notably, he bagged all three assists in the match against Sassuolo. With 11 goals and three assists, Olivier Giroud had a decent campaign. Left-back Theo Hernandez made six assists and scored five goals as well.
Giroud
Giroud fared well in Serie A debut season
Giroud slotted 11 goals in 29 appearances for Milan in Serie A 21/22. He was involved in four assists. Overall, the Frenchman netted 14 goals in 38 appearances across competitions in 2021/22. As per Opta, the former Arsenal player has become the oldest player to reach double figures in his Serie A debut season (35y, 234 d).