AC MILAN v EMPOLI: OPPONENT REVIEW

Third against thirteenth: Pioli's AC Milan and Nicola's Empoli will face off on matchday 28 at San Siro, separated by 10 spots in the standings and 31 points. Despite the good omens surrounding the Rossoneri and the fact that the last Tuscan win at San Siro came in April 2017, nothing can be taken for granted. First of all, the confidence collected in recent away games: after a run of five matches on the road without a win in Serie A (3D, 2L), Empoli have won their last two away fixtures against Salernitana and Sassuolo. Nicola's men will look for the 'hattrick' in the league, something that hasn't happened since between December 2015 and January 2016, with Marco Giampaolo in charge.

Speaking of coaches, therein lies another danger for Sunday afternoon: since Nicola took over from Andreazzoli (Matchday 21), his team has scored 11 goals in 7 games - the same number as in the previous 20 league clashes. The tides have turned for the Azzurri and this is clear when compared to the rest of the squads that finished the first half of the Serie A season in the bottom eight: Empoli have won the most points in the first 8 games of the second half of the season, 12, only one less than the total they bagged in the entire first half of the season (13). For these reasons in particular, it will be fundamental to have the right approach for Pioli's men, without underestimating an opponent ready for battle.

CORNERS AND AERIAL DEFENCE WEAK SPOTS, NUMBERS CHANGING UNDER NICOLA 
In the current Serie A season, Empoli's most obvious limits have been in defending dead-ball situations. Other than the 14 goals conceded from set pieces (34% of all goals let in), the Tuscans have a particular problem with corners: 8 goals have been conceded following a corner kick, less only than Frosinone (9). This is a key weakness for them in light of the upcoming clash that sees them face one of the three sides that have scored the most from corners: 7 goals for AC Milan, record shared with Inter and Juventus. 

Another element that causes Nicola's side difficulty (and many risks) is linked to headers: the Azzurri have allowed 9 goals to be headed in (only Frosinone and Lecce have done worse with 11) and the Rossoneri have bagged 9 times with headers, less only than Roma (10) and Fiorentina (11). The Tuscan defence has several flaws, evidenced by the 41 total goals conceded so far; however, since Nicola has been in the dugout, the numbers have shown clear improvement: 6 conceded in 7 games, the same as Napoli and Bologna in the same period, only top-of-the-league Inter have conceded less (3).

NIANG IN GREAT FORM, BASTONI HUNTING DOWN A MILESTONE
On Sunday at 15:00 CET, two players who left Rossoneri ranks will be back at the Meazza, both of them, in different ways, represent a sort of threat for the AC Milan backline. The first one to mention is M'Baye Niang, scoring 8 goals in 67 Serie A games for the Diavolo between 2012 and 2017. The 1994-born Frenchman has been involved in 4 goals in his last 4 league appearances for Empoli (3 goals and one assist); whilst he has been involved in 2 goals in 2 games against the Rossoneri, 1 goal and 1 assist, both on 29 April 2015 at San Siro whilst at Genoa. The forwards is in great form and this can be seen from the ratio of goals scored from active play and minutes picked up: of the players that have scored at least 3 goals in the top 5 European leagues this season, only Williot Swedberg from Celta Vigo has played less minutes (125) than him (132). 

If we're talking about ex-players, no less important is Mattia Destro, 15 appearances and 3 league goals for AC Milan in the second half of the 2014/15 season. The Empoli player, substituted in the 58th minute during the last league game against Cagliari, has not played a full 90 since 30 October 2022, against Atalanta. Nonetheless, 3 of his 5 goals scored against AC Milan in the top flight came at San Siro, including the most recent one in April 2021 whilst at Genoa. Another danger for Pioli's defence could be Simone Bastoni who bagged his first ever Serie A goal against AC Milan (for Spezia on 13 February 2021). The Empoli midfielder scored in his last league appearances, against Sassuolo in February, and could score in two consecutive games for the first time in the competition. No small feat.

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