AC Milan – Empoli SOCCER PICKS
Milan and Empoli meet at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, in a match for the 25 th round of Serie A. The two teams tied (1-1), on 27-09-2018, in the previous match for this edition of the league. In this stadium, the history of direct confrontations indicates total equilibrium between these two teams, since there was 1 draw and 1 win for each team in the last 3 matches. However, the last time these two teams played a match in this stadium was on 23-04-2017, for Serie A, which ended with Empoli’s victory by (1-2). The goals of the match were scored by G. Lapadula (72 ‘), for Milan, and L. Mchedlidze (40′) and M. Thiam (67 ‘), for Empoli. In this game the home factor may be decisive, since the Empoli presents considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor.
Milan:
The home team is currently in the 4 th position, with 42 points won, after 11 wins, 9 draws and 4 losses. In the penultimate match, they won in a home match against Cagliari, by (3-0). In the last match, they won in an away match against Atalanta, by (1-3). This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 5 wins, 7 draws and 3 losses as a visitor; against 9 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses at their stadium. For the championship, Milan won 20 points out of 30 possible, after 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in the last 10 home matches. In their home matches for this competition there is a tendency for goals, since 8 of the last 12 matches have ended with Over 2,5 goals. In 24 matches played in this competition, they got the comeback in 3 of the 7 games in which they suffered the first goal.
AC Milan left for this match with a win, 1-3, in the displacement to Atalanta, thus adding the second consecutive victory in the Italian championship: the goals of the team were scored by Piatek (2) and Calhanoglu. It should be noted that the locals won 7 of the 12 games played in their stadium. In this game against the fans, the coach Gennaro Gattuso must act in 4-3-3, being the most offensive reference the Polish Piatek. The player mentioned above is the great highlight of Milan, with 4 goals in 4 games played. For this game the coach can not count on Suso, suspended, in addition to Reina, Zapata and Bonaventura, all due to injury.
Empoli:
After 5 wins, 6 draws and 13 losses, the away team is currently in the 17 th position of the league, with 21 points won. In the penultimate match, they lost in an away match against Lazio, by (1-0). In the last match, they won in a home match against Sassuolo, by (3-0). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 2 wins, 6 draws and 7 losses in away matches; against 6 wins, 2 draws and 7 losses at their stadium. For the championship, Empoli won 4 points out of 30 possible points, after 4 draws and 6 losses in the last 10 home matches.
For this competition, they have not won any of the last 11 away matches. In their home league matches the most frequent final result at halftime was 1-0 (4 out of 11 matches). They have not been very strong defensively, since they have suffered goals in 9 of the last 10 matches, but their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 7 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In their away matches there is a tendency for goals, since 8 of the last 11 matches have ended with Over 2,5 goals. In 24 matches in this competition, they only got 1 comeback in the 15 matches in which they suffered the first goal.
The Empoli left for this match with a triumph, 3-0, at the reception at Sassuolo, placing a final point to a lousy series of eight consecutive matches without beating in this competition: the goals of the team were marked by Acquah, Krunic and Farias. In this game against AC Milan, coach Giuseppe Iachini must opt for a more cautious strategy, benefiting defensive organization and counterattacks. On an individual level we highlight Francesco Caputo, player who scored 11 goals until this moment. For this game, the visiting coach can not count on Lorenzo Polvani, a player recovering from an injury.
