Empoli vs AC Milan Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Italian Serie A
THE FACTS
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
When is Empoli vs AC Milan on and what time does it start? Empoli vs AC Milan will take place on Sunday 7th January, 2024 – 11:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Empoli vs AC Milan? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Empoli vs AC Milan on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Serie A matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Empoli vs AC Milan
Where can I stream Empoli vs AC Milan in the UK? If Empoli vs AC Milan is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
EMPOLI
It has been a genuinely horrible season so far with Paolo Zanetti having been replaced by their former coach, Aurelio Andreazzoli, in the opening couple of months of this campaign. The Florence-based club had started impressively under Andreazzoli but they have very much drifted and begin the weekend sitting firmly in the bottom three and the relegation places.
The home team come into this on the back of a goalless draw away to fellow strugglers Cagliari in their most recent outing, last weekend. Empoli are now winless in their last six matches in Serie A. The hosts’ key issue has been their poor scoring efforts with just ten notched in their 18 games so far this season.
AC MILAN
The seven-time European champions AC Milan begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting tucked inside the top four and the UEFA Champions League qualifying spots. The Rossoneri come into this one on the back of a 4-1 hammering of Cagliari in the Round of 16 in the Coppa Italia in midweek and they have suffered just one defeat in their last seven games across all competitions.
Stefano Pioli’s side started very slowly and are very much not involved in a Serie A title race this time around as they begin the weekend sitting 12 points behind Internazionale at the top-of-the-table. Milan are beginning to find their stride, though, after a very busy and hectic summer transfer window, especially in terms of incomings.
THE TEAM NEWS
EMPOLI
Leo Cacace is out suspended for this weekend, whilst Simone Bastoni is sidelined due to injury. Giuseppe Pezzella is a doubt, too, for this one.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-2-1-2): Caprile; Ebuehi, Walukiewicz, Luperto, Ismajli; Grassi; Kovalenko, Maleh; Maldini; Caputo, Cambiaghi
UNAVAILABLE: Cacace (Suspended), Bastoni (Injured), Guarino (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Pezzella (Injured)
AC MILAN
Both Samu Chukwueze and Ismael Bennacer are out suspended, whilst the likes of Fikayo Tomori, Noah Okafor and Malick Thiaw are out injured.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Kjaer, Hernandez, Florenzi; Reijnders, Krunic; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud
UNAVAILABLE: Chukwueze (Suspended), Bennacer (Suspended), Tomori (Injured), Pobega (Injured), Okafor (Injured), Thiaw (Injured), Kalulu (Injured), Sportiello (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
It has been a genuinely miserable campaign for Empoli, despite their occasional stubborn performance. A lack of goals has meant they were always expected to struggle and that is hardly likely to change when they come up against an AC Milan side looking to be dominant and truly re-establish themselves in the second-half of the campaign. A fairly comfortable away win is to be expected for this one in Florence.
TIP: MILAN TO WIN
