Why betting companies are favoring AC Milan to win the Serie A title
Italy’s Serie A is one of the most prestigious domestic competitions in European soccer and always serves up plenty of drama for fans to enjoy. This league is also full of the biggest players in world soccer and home to some of the most famous teams to follow.
AC Milan certainly fit the bill and are a team who have a long and successful history in not only the Italian but also the European game. It is looking as if the current 2023/24 season could be one to remember for supporters, as they have started the campaign brightly. This has already led some betting companies to tip them for title glory.
AC Milan 2023/24: Could the Scudetto be theirs?
When you start to take a look around, there seems to be a real feeling among sportsbooks online that AC Milan could take the title in 2023/24. This is true for the top UK sites for betting on soccer and also sportsbooks who cover soccer wagering in other parts of the world. As a result, most online bookmakers currently have the team at odds of around 3/1 to take the title home. This leaves them at the head of current title betting markets and shows the optimism sportsbooks appear to have on the Rossoneri finishing first come season end.
Here are some of the reasons why most betting companies are favoring AC Milan for Serie A glory:
Awesome summer 2023 transfer window
This is a bold call to make in some ways, but most fans of the Rossoneri would not argue with it. The decision to sell Sandro Tonali during the summer might have seemed questionable initially, but AC Milan’s awesome summer transfer window in 2023 afterwards allayed their fears.
Top young players such as Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic, Samuel Chukwueze, Noah Okafor and Tijjani Reijnders joined to help support the club’s title bid in 23/24. Such an influx of talent early in the pre-season gave them time to integrate with current players and be ready to start the season strongly. As a result of this, the business done by AC Milan during summer 2023 is one reason most betting firms think they will win the championship.
Held onto top existing players
One of the reasons that AC Milan are favorites for the Serie A title is that they held onto their most important players after Tonali left. Rafael Leao for example was linked with transfers to many top clubs in world soccer but decided to stay put. Holding onto such a key first-team player not only adds even more strength to the team’s locker room but also provides stability. It also means that there is a core of first team players who have experience playing in Serie A and know what it takes to win games in the league.
This is also true when you think of crucial players such as Mike Maignan, who have also stayed with the team. This blend of newly arrived talent coupled with retaining some of the best players in Serie A is another reason sportsbooks are so hot on an AC Milan Scudetto victory.
Tight defense
Another reason betting companies are seemingly keen on the team to win the title in 23/24 is the watertight defense it has shown to date. There have been only nine goals scored against them in nine games — and five of these were against old foes Inter in mid-September! Although goals win games, keeping it tight at the back is also key to picking up points and winning championships.
It also helps to take the pressure of the strikers, as they know they do not have to be scoring loads of goals every game to snatch victory. The team in 23/24 seem to be able to successfully repel the vast majority of Serie A teams and this is the ideal foundation for taking the victories which could steer them to glory.
Stefano Pioli is a top coach
Any group of players is only as good as the person who coaches them. For AC Milan, it is Stefano Pioli who is still in the hotseat and he is a major part of why betting companies feel the Rossoneri can win Serie A this season.
Pioli is a master tactician who can outwit opposing managers and make the right team selections for the right games. With such a fantastic squad at his disposal to call on, he has not only the depth of playing talent at his fingertips but also the understanding of how best to use it.
The coach is also adept at showing tactical flexibility in games, which can help his team win when things are not going according to plan. While he might prefer a 4-3-3 this season for example, he is not afraid to switch to a 4-2-3-1 when needed. Most importantly, the 2021/22 Serie A win under Pioli shows he has what it takes to manage a club to the title and will not fold under pressure.
AC Milan 2023/24: Another title on its way?
All fans of the team will be loving how the 2023/24 season has gone overall so far and will be starting to think another Serie A title is in the cards. This is something that most betting companies seem to agree with, and the above reasons illustrate why this is the case.