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As the turbulent tides of Serie A swirl dramatically, the beleaguered AC Milan seeks to regain its footing amidst a backdrop of vexing inconsistency. This Saturday, they will face off against the unexpectedly resilient Empoli, who currently dwell comfortably in the mid-table. For the Rossoneri, the stakes have never been higher as they strive to keep in touch with the upper echelons of the league.
Following a disheartening goalless stalemate against Juventus that left them languishing in seventh place, Milan found a flicker of hope by snatching a narrow victory in Bratislava, rekindling their Champions League aspirations. As they gear up for battle at the iconic San Siro, Empoli is poised to potentially draw level on points with a win—adding an extra layer of intrigue to this clash.
Match Preview
In a triumphant display, Milan recently celebrated their third consecutive win in the Champions League, overcoming Slovan Bratislava with a score of 3-2. Key players Christian Pulisic, Tammy Abraham, and Rafael Leao showcased their prowess, but the performance was far from decisive.
Despite this European success, their domestic campaign has faltered, reaping a meager 19 points thus far, with last weekend’s lackluster draw at home exemplifying their struggles. In that match against Juventus, they mustered a mere single shot on target—a statistic that paints a grim picture for a team historically known for its offensive flair.
A flicker of potential lies in the shadow of inconsistency; Milan’s recent form has seen them oscillate between defensive resoluteness and vulnerability, a disconcerting pattern likely to concern manager Paulo Fonseca. As the season progresses, dreams of lifting silverware may hinge solely on cup competitions, as an intimidating 10-point chasm separates them from leaders Napoli.
With an upcoming opportunity to extend their winless home streak, they face dire consequences if they can’t break this cycle, something unthinkable since 2021.
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In stark contrast, the visitors from Empoli find themselves surprisingly close on points to their more illustrious opponents, despite having suffered six losses in their last seven encounters against Milan—most notably failing to breach their defenses in five of those matches. Yet, history does hold a peculiar twist: all of Empoli’s previous victories over Milan occurred at the fabled San Siro, with their last triumph coming in 2017.
Displaying a newfound resilience, Empoli recently drew with Udinese, with striker Pietro Pellegri finding his rhythm, netting three goals in as many matches. They sit firmly in 10th place—an overachievement that reflects their admirable performance under the guidance of coach Roberto D’Aversa, after narrowly escaping relegation last spring. The Azzurri’s focus will soon shift to a Coppa Italia clash against local rivals Fiorentina, but first, they must contend with the formidable prowess of Milan.
Team News
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In terms of squad availability, Milan boasts an almost fully fit lineup, with only long-term absentees like Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi missing out on Saturday’s showdown. Notably, Alvaro Morata returns after a UEFA suspension, adding depth to the attacking arsenal alongside young sensation Francesco Camarda and the in-form Tammy Abraham, who has historically caused problems for Empoli’s defense.
On the opposing bench, Empoli’s Pellegri is likely to spearhead their attack, riding a wave of confidence following his remarkable scoring streak, despite his past injury woes. However, the Azzurri face a challenge with several players sidelined, including Szymon Zurkowski and Tyronne Ebuehi, while Nicolas Haas is recovering from a severe knee injury.
Both Devis Vasquez and Lorenzo Colombo, who are on loan from Milan, are set to face their parent club, adding a unique twist to this encounter.
AC Milan’s possible lineup:
Maignan; Emerson, Thiaw, Gabbia, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Chukwueze, Pulisic, Leao; Morata
Empoli’s possible lineup:
Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Anjorin, Henderson, Maleh, Pezzella; Colombo, Pellegri
We say: AC Milan 2-0 Empoli
Although Milan’s road performances can be shaky, they usually maintain an iron grip at home. This match spells a potential end to Empoli’s unbeaten streak. Fostering concerns over their uneven performances, Fonseca’s men still appear to possess enough firepower to subdue their counterparts from Tuscany.
