Having drifted away from the group of leaders, AC Milan cannot afford any slip-ups in their upcoming league fixtures. At the San Siro against Empoli, only a win will suffice for the Milan side, as the opponents are notably outclassed, though they maintain a comfortable distance from the relegation zone.
Despite recent draws with Cagliari (3:3) and Juventus (0:0), AC Milan remain one of Serie A’s most entertaining sides. They have struggled with finishing, having scored 20 goals from an xG of 23.52, yet they rank in the top five in the league for expected goals. Earlier this week, AS Milan had a field day in Bratislava against the hosts’ defence (3:2), which conceded 1.88 xGA and allowed 15 shots.
Empoli’s commendable results against Serie A’s mid-table and lower-ranked teams do not translate into their performances against top clubs. Since the beginning of October, they’ve failed to pick up any points in matches against Lazio (1:2), Napoli (0:1), and Inter Milan (0:3). Inter Milan, in particular, demonstrated a significant advantage in chances (1.11-0.25 xG) over Empoli.
Empoli continue to be without eight first-team players, while AC Milan have adjusted to playing without Ismaël Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi, and Luka Jović. AC Milan attack with flair, and their leaders' individual brilliance should be enough for a victory.
