AC MILAN v EMPOLI: A PREVIOUS MEETING

The final push of the 2021/22 season for the Rossoneri begins with AC Milan v Empoli. There are only ten matchdays remaining in the league and next up on the fixture list is the game against Aurelio Andreazzoli's side. It should be widely known that this upcoming match against the Tuscan outfit will be no easy outing, given that the head-to-head to record in the last five league meetings between the Rossoneri and the Azzurri is totally balanced: two wins apiece and one draw. Going a little further back, to just over 16 years ago, we witnessed the last time that AC Milan v Empoli was played while the Rossoneri were well in the title race. It was 4 March 2006, in the 2005/06 season...

SETTING THE SCENE
It was matchday 28 in Serie A and the Rossoneri hosted the Azzurri just before they played in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie against Bayern Munich. Carlo Ancelotti's side were in great form as they approached the match against Luigi Cagni's Empoli; their win against Palermo the weekend prior was the third league win on the spin. This run of results had seen the Rossoneri overtake Inter in the standings and also reduce - from 14 to 10 - the point deficit between themselves and league-leaders Juventus. The looming European clash forced Ancelotti to shuffle the pack and make a raft of changes from the side that had played at the Stadio Renzo Barbera. AC Milan lined up in a 4-3-1-2 formation with Kalac in goal; an unchanged defensive line of Šimić, Costacurta, Kaladze and Jankulovski; a trio of Gattuso, Vogel and Seedorf was picked in midfield; up front, Rui Costa played in behind a strike partnership formed of Inzaghi and Gilardino.

COSTACURTA AND ŠIMIĆ HIT THE WOODWORK, EMPOLI RESILIENT
It was an even first half at San Siro. Empoli defended stoutly and their energetic press hampered the Rossoneri's ability to get on the front foot. The Tuscan side also threatened going forward and the first real chance of the game fell the way of Cagni's side: in the 23rd minute, Almirón just failed to get to Buscé's low cross from a great position in front of Kalac and the ball sailed off target. AC Milan responded in the 30th minute with the best chance of the first half. Rui Costa slipped it down the line for Costacurta, Pratali got there ahead of Billy but our captain that day immediately recovered the ball and unleashed a cross-cum-shot, which struck the far post. Ancelotti rolled the dice and, within the first ten minutes of the second half, sent Kaká on in place of Seedorf and Pirlo for Rui Costa. It seemed, however, that the ball would never end up in the back of the Empoli net: Šimić first struck the bar with a headed effort, then substitute Shevchenko fired just wide of Balli's goal.

SUPERPIPPO OPENS THE SCORING AND WRAPS IT UP
As the game wore on, the Rossoneri began to ramp up the pressure and Ancelotti's side were finally rewarded in the 76th minute with the goal to make it 1-0. And what a goal it was. Kaladze brought the ball forwards through the middle and fed Inzaghi, who received the ball with his back to goal. Pippo turned and held off both Raggi and Vanigli, before leathering an unstoppable shot, which beat goalkeeper Balli, struck the underside of the crossbar and went in. The first goal opened the flood gates and the Rossoneri doubled their lead just five minutes later. Just as it was in the 2-0 win in Palermo, a goal from SuperPippo was followed by one by Shevchenko, this time from open play. It was a wonderful bit of centre-forward play as the Ukrainian laid off Gattuso's cross to Kaká only to get the ball back from Ricky with a clever through ball. Sheva got away from the marking of Ascoli and stuck it away with a tidy finish. As they say in Italy, there is no two without three and the Rossoneri bagged their third goal in ten minutes. It was Inzaghi again with the goal as he - rather fortunately - deflected the ball into the net following Shevchenko's free-kick to score his tenth in the league that season. The pair would go then feature heavily in the heavyweight European bout four days later and the Rossoneri ended that season with record-setting home form as they made San Siro their fortress: 18 wins and one draw, equalling the record of the famous Grande Torino side of 1948/49.

Match KITs, clothing, accessories, gift ideas and much more: visit AC Milan online Store!