Last call. The Milan di Fonseca, already far away from the top of the table, receives Empoli to try to get back into the race, provided that someone slows down. One of Fiorentina and Inter (or maybe both), however, will have to do so and the Rossoneri have a duty to take advantage of it, to then go to Bergamo in the next round and play it all. But today's 3 points would be mandatory regardless, otherwise even the Champions League zone, currently 9 points away (but with a game less), would risk moving dangerously away.
Milan – Empoli (18pm, Dazn)
The obstacle of Empoli is certainly not an insurmountable one, but with this season's Milan, it is now understood, it is better not to go too far. Fonseca's team, by his own admission, suffers more in matches against the "small" teams than in direct clashes and the away match in Bratislava, although victorious, was yet another demonstration of this. D'Aversa's Tuscans, moreover, know how to create problems for the big teams, as seen against Roma, Juventus, Napoli and, partially, Inter, which should induce the Rossoneri to keep their antennas up. The current standings, moreover, do not allow for missteps or distractions of any kind, furthermore the San Siro crowd, present in mass as usual, has already shown its disappointment after the draw with Juve and would not take a misstep today well at all (euphemism). To reassure him, even if only partially, the score between the friendly walls, so far more than good against the provincials: with the exception of the debut against Torino (2-2), the Devils have beaten Venezia, Lecce and Udinese, confirming that their problems emerge above all away from home. Fonseca is aware of the delicacy of the moment, it is no coincidence that he has rotated several men in Bratislava to have them at their best between today and next Friday in Bergamo. Leao, protagonist in the Champions League, will return from the first minute and the coach hopes that he can help him take 3 very important points.
Fonseca: “We are looking for balance, but we are the fifth defense in the championship…”
“Against Empoli I have the same pressure that I had in other weeks, as do the players: we know that we always have to win, I don't feel any more pressure than in the last few games,” Fonseca explained. “We concede a lot of goals, but we are the fifth defense in the league and sometimes we exaggerate with the problems. We are making a monster out of a problem, we are working to improve, but often they are situations that are not tactical, but rather a misreading or individual errors. In Italy, teams must have two offensive faces to face different teams. You attack differently against Empoli than against Juve or Slovan, there are different aspects to deal with and focus on. It will be a very, very difficult game. Is Leao better on the pitch than on the bench? Now, yes. Every coach has different strategies, I used two with him: one didn't work, the other did. I am satisfied with the reaction he had to the exclusions, but now I want continuity, Milan needs this Leao.”
Milan – Empoli, probable formations
Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Thiaw, Cage, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Musah, Pulisic, Leao; Morata
On the bench: Sportiello, Torriani, Calabria, Tomori, Pavlovic, Terracciano, Loftus-Cheek, Chukwueze, Okafor, Abraham, Camarda
Coach: Fonseca
Unavailable: Florenzi, Jovic, Bennacer
Disqualified: none
Empoli (3-4-2-1): Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Henderson, Maleh, Pezzella; Colombo, Cacace; Pellegri
On the bench: Perisan, Seghetti, Marianucci, Tosto, Belardinelli, Anjorin, Sambia, Solbakken, Ekong, Esposito, Konaté
Coach: D'Aversa
Unavailable: Fazzini, Grassi, Ebuehi, Zurkowski, Sazonov, Haas, De Sciglio
Disqualified: none
