After two consecutive draws against Cagliari and Juventus, Milan can no longer afford any slip-ups in the league if they hope to keep their slim chances of re-entering the Scudetto race alive. In recent history, the Rossoneri have been part of several remarkable comebacks in the fight for titles or Champions League spots. The most recent memories include their resurgence after the COVID-19 lockdown and, two years later, their triumphant league title campaign. Paulo Fonseca’s team now faces a favorable schedule. Until mid-January, Milan has only one particularly tough fixture, next week against Atalanta in Bergamo.UCL: Cholo’s spider hits twice, Rafa and Tammy kill their rival in 100 secondsMilan manager Paulo Fonseca is set to field his strongest lineup tonight. Unlike other top teams—except Napoli—Milan is the only side without any key players unavailable. Unlike last season, when injuries plagued the squad, Milan’s players have been much more resilient this year. Milan currently sits nine points away from the Champions League spots in Serie A, highlighting the importance of tonight’s match at San Siro. Empoli, on the other hand, is cruising through the season with an average points tally that should ensure a calm campaign without fears of relegation.He is on 4 million euros per year and training alone: Origi is somewhere in ItalyThe Rossoneri have won six of their last seven matches against Empoli, with one draw. In five of those seven games, Milan kept a clean sheet. However, caution is warranted, as Empoli’s three wins in the history of their clashes have all come at the Meazza, the most recent being seven years ago. Milan is expected to start with Yunus Musah, whose presence allows Fonseca to switch formations mid-game from the initial 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3, offering better defensive coverage. Defensive fragility remains Milan’s biggest issue, not just due to the number of goals conceded but also the high-quality chances allowed to opponents.𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐑𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐍 💪🏼❤️🖤@acmilan ⚽ #MilanEmpoli #TH1️⃣9️⃣ #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/q1q4bqTbY8— Theo Hernandez (@TheoHernandez) November 30, 2024 The only uncertainty in the starting lineup is between Malick Thiaw and Pavlović. The German has the edge to partner Gabbia in central defense, but the Serbian still has a chance to make the starting XI after impressing in Bratislava and now in Milan. All eyes will be on Rafael Leão. The Portuguese winger publicly expressed his frustration with being benched, despite only coming alive after experiencing what it’s like to watch the game from the sidelines. Alongside Leão, Álvaro Morata is also expected to deliver a convincing response to critics, having scored only two goals so far this season. Tammy Abraham will start on the bench but is likely to feature in the second half, particularly since Empoli is his favorite opponent in Serie A—he has scored four goals against the Tuscans.SERIE A – MATCHDAY 14Friday Cagliari – Verona 1-0 (0-0)/Piccoli 75/Saturday 17.00: (2.05) Como (3.45) Monza (4.10)20.00: (1.38) Milan (4.70) Empoli (8.50)22.45: (1.65) Bologna (3.70) Venezia (5.60)Sunday14.30: (2.05) Udinese (3.45) Genoa (4.10)17.00: (4.40) Parma (3.60) Lazio (1.83)17.00: (4.70) Torino (3.50) Napoli (1.80)20.00: (3.80) Fiorentina (3.50) Inter (2.10)22.45: (5.30) Lecce (3.50) Juventus (1.72)Monday 22.45: (3.30) Roma (3.50) Atalanta (2.30)***odds are subject to change***
