TIME MACHINE: AC MILAN v EMPOLI

AC Milan v Empoli, the second consecutive Serie A match in front of the Rossoneri fans at San Siro. This fixture has seen several encounters in recent years, given Empoli's fairly consistent presence in the top league. As we approach our fourteenth matchday, we look back through our Time Machine to a game over five years ago, decided by three goals in the second half.

Matchday 25 of the 2018/19 Serie A season featured a Friday night fixture between Gattuso's AC Milan and Iachini's Empoli. The two teams had different objectives: the Rossoneri were in the thick of the race for a top-four finish, while Empoli was fighting to avoid relegation. Both teams approached the match positively. AC Milan was coming off back-to-back wins against Cagliari and Atalanta, and Empoli had just secured a solid 3-0 home victory over Sassuolo. One of the standout stories for Milan was Krzysztof Piątek. Having joined the club in the January transfer window, the Polish striker had already impressed with a flurry of goals in both the Coppa Italia and Serie A, solidifying his position at the centre of AC Milan's attack. In this match against the Tuscan side, who lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, Piątek was supported by Castillejo and Çalhanoğlu in a 4-3-3 system, with Gattuso opting for a consistent line-up that included the midfield trio of Paquetá, Bakayoko, and Kessie, and a four-man defence in front of Donnarumma. The game saw an early breakthrough in the tenth minute, but Paquetá's header was ruled out for offside.

Samuel Castillejo was particularly inspired in the first half, but the Spanish winger's two attempts were met with reactive saves by Drągowski. The half-time whistle blew with the score still 0-0, but AC Milan started the second half strongly, quickly finding the breakthrough goal. After a lovely triangle of passes between Castillejo, Kessie, and Çalhanoğlu, the latter provided an assist for Piątek (49'), who made a successful run and scored once again at San Siro. After waiting over a half for the opening goal, Milan only had to wait a little more than a minute for the second. Castillejo quickly accelerated, setting up Kessie, who beat Drągowski with a delicate chip. Castillejo, after his assist, deservedly got on the scoresheet himself (67'). Conti delivered a low cross, and Castillejo tapped it in from close range to make it 3-0 for AC Milan. The result was secured, and the match headed toward the final whistle, sealing an important three points on a late winter Friday evening.

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