Empoli vs AC Milan Preview: Team News & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Empoli are hovering just above the bottom three and the relegation places after a bright start to the campaign as they now take on underperforming giants AC Milan in Florence this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 8th February, 2025: 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+
Empoli Preview: Fallen in Florence
Former Benevento coach Roberto D’Aversa, who was sacked by Lecce last season for slapping Hellas Verona forward Thomas Henry, remains in charge of an Empoli side that started the season very brightly but have simply collapsed to yet another relegation battle.
The Florence-based club come into this one on the back of a 4-1 annihilation at the hands of Juventus last weekend despite leading the game at the J Stadium as late as the 60th minute. They are now winless in their last eight matches in Serie A.
AC Milan Preview: Additional Heading Here
In Sergio Conceicao’s first two matches as AC Milan boss, the Rossoneri came from behind to defeat both Juventus and then Internazionale to win the Supercoppa Italiana but they have underwhelmed ever since then with some fairly average recent performances.
Milan do come into this one on the back of a much-needed and impressive 3-1 defeat of Claudio Ranieri’s Roma at San Siro in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia with a Tammy Abraham brace supported by a strike from debutant Joao Felix.
Empoli Team News: Several injuries
The home team have several injury absentees for this weekend with defensive midfielder Youssef Maleh also unavailable due to suspension for Empoli. Attacking duo Ola Solbakken and Pietro Pellegri also remain sidelined for the hosts.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Devis Vasquez; De Sciglio, Goglichidze, Marianucci; Gyasi, Henderson, Zurkowski, Cacace; Esposito, Konate; Colombo
Unavailable: Sazonov (Injured), Haas (Injured), Maleh (Suspended), Solbakken (Injured), Pellegri (Injured)
Questionable: Ebuehi (Injured), Ismajli (Injured), Viti (Injured), Fazzini (Injured), Anjorin (Injured)
AC Milan Team News: Walker in
With Emerson Royal missing due to a calf injury and Davide Calabria departing for Atalanta, Kyle Walker is now expected to establish himself as AC Milan’s regular right-back. Fellow new signing Warren Bondo is an injury doubt due to a thigh issue.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Maignan; Walker, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Musah, Bennacer, Reijnders; Pulisic, Abraham, Leao
Unavailable: Florenzi (Injured)
Questionable: Emerson Royal (Injured), Bondo (Injured), Loftus-Cheek (Injured)
Empoli vs AC Milan Prediction
The hosts long winless streak is not just a one off this season because that poor run of form can be extended to just two victories in their last 18 matches across all competitions since that bright start to the campaign. They now take on an AC Milan side that have been inconsistent under Conceicao but the former Porto boss is an expert at making his teams difficult to beat so whilst it may not be pretty, up against such a poor side, a hard-fought Rossoneri victory is to be expected for this one.
Empoli vs AC Milan Tip: AC Milan to win & under 3.5 goals
