AC Milan vs Empoli 23/02/19

23 February 2019

The Champions League promotion contenders and the Serie A relegation fighters are set to meet face-to-face as AC Milan welcome Empoli to the Stadio San Siro.

Unbeaten in their last six clashes across all competitions (W4, D2), the hosts are looking to extend a promising run and preserve the fourth-place that is currently threatened by fifth-placed AS Roma. The arrival of Krzysztof Piatek has helped Gennaro Gattuso to solve his team’s immense problems in the final third, as the Rossoneri scored over 2.5 goals per match in back-to-back Serie A outings for the first time this season. What’s more, the Milanese giants have bagged 2+ match goals in three of their previous four home games across all competitions, conceding just one in the process. However, AC Milan have failed to beat Empoli in both of their last H2H meetings (D1, L1), while the last time they’ve managed to keep a clean sheet against the Blues dates back to 2006.

Meanwhile, the visitors are going through a difficult period that has seen them secure barely one win in their last nine SA fixtures (W1, D2, L6). Furthermore, Giuseppe Iachini’s players are still seeking their elusive first away win in the Italian top tier this campaign (D4, L7) as they remain by far the weakest road team in the Apennines. Only one side has shipped more goals on the road than Empoli (25) this term, with the Blues struggling for a clean sheet in ten of 11 SA away clashes. Moreover, Iachini’s men hold the fourth joint-worst away attacking record having failed to hit the net in two of their last three SA road trips. The only encouraging fact for Empoli is that they’ve walked away from the San Siro with points twice on their previous two visits (W1, D1, L1).