AC Milan vs Empoli Preview: Team News & Prediction
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AC Milan got away with it in midweek against ten-man Slovan Bratislava but their results have been improving under Paulo Fonseca’s tenure as the Rossoneri now prepare to take on a declining Empoli at San Siro.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 30th November, 2024: UK – 5:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
How to watch online: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
AC Milan Preview: Resurgent Rossoneri
AC Milan come into this one on the back of an entertaining defeat of Slovan Bratislava in the Slovakian capital in the UEFA Champions League in midweek. The Rossoneri went ahead via Christian Pulisic before being pegged back by Tegran Barseghyan. Milan went 3-1 up via Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham with Nino Marcelli scoring a screamer to make it 3-2.
That followed on from an extremely dull goalless draw against Juventus last weekend in a game in which neither side deserved to win. Paulo Fonseca has been under pressure in charge of AC Milan in the opening few months of this campaign but the Rossoneri have now suffered just one defeat in their last eight matches across all competitions.
Empoli Preview: Fading Empoli
Roberto D’Aversa came in over the summer after Empoli required three managers, Paolo Zanetti, Aurelio Andreazzoli and Davide Nicola, to eventually avoid the drop on the final day of last season. This season started positively for the Florence-based club but they have drifted down the table in the last couple of months.
The visitors come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw with Udinese in Florence last weekend with Pietro Pellegri’s first-half strike being cancelled out by a 76th minute Keinan Davis equaliser. The hosts have now managed just one win in their last seven matches as they fade into the middle-of-the-table.
AC Milan Team News: Being more attacking
Last week, Paulo Fonseca selected four central midfielders despite having an abundance of attackers and he came under fire for that so is likely to revert to a more attacking line-up.
The hosts do still have a few injury absentees with both Alessandro Florenzi and Ismael Bennacer remaining sidelined alongside Serbia international striker Luka Jovic.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Alvaro Morata
Unavailable: Florenzi (Injured), Bennacer (Injured), Jovic (Injured)
Questionable:
Empoli Team News: Key injuries
Empoli have had long-term issues throughout the season, such as Tyronne Ebuehi having an ACL injury, but there is a fresh concern as Nicolas Haas has also picked up an ACL injury.
Szymon Zurkowski is a key man for the visitors but he remains sidelined for this one alongside summer signing Saba Sazonov as well as Jacopo Fazzini.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Devis Vasquez; Goglichdze, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Henderson, Maleh, Pezzella; Colombo, Cacace; Pellegri
Unavailable: Haas (Injured), Ebuehi (Injured), Sazonov (Injured), Fazzini (Injured), Zurkowski (Injured)
Questionable:
AC Milan vs Empoli Prediction
AC Milan have an abundance of attackers and they have shown that at times this season, most notably in their last couple of outings in the UEFA Champions League, but they could do with keeping up with the leading pack in Serie A and now showing that domestically. Empoli have drawn quite a lot of games in their fall away from the upper echelons of the table but that stubbornness is unlikely to be enough against what is a Milan side and squad with a lot of potential.
AC Milan vs Empoli Tip: AC Milan to win -1 handicap