AC Milan vs Empoli prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2024-03-09 14:00.
[p]AC Milan emerged 4-2 winners against Slavia Prague on Thursday in a thrilling UEFA Europa League last 16 tie, and with the second leg on the horizon, Stefano Pioli’s men must first turn their attention to Empoli. The Rossoneri can, at least temporarily, move themselves into second place with victory, and they should be confident having lost just one of the last 14 top-flight H2Hs (W8, D5).[/p]
[p]That lone H2H defeat came at the San Siro back in 2017, but six wins from their last eight home league games (D2) this season suggests Milan should be confident of avoiding another slip-up. That run featured four clean sheets, and another would be priceless considering that they’ve conceded an alarming ten times across their last five matches in all competitions (W2, D1, L2).[/p]
[p]Despite starting the round up in 14th, just two points separate Empoli from the relegation zone heading into matchday 28. The arrival of Davide Nicola has sparked a revival with the Azzurri losing just one of their last seven league games (W3, D3), including draws against Juventus and Fiorentina, suggesting they are unlikely to be overawed by illustrious opposition.[/p]
[p]Empoli have also managed to string together back-to-back top-flight away wins for the first time since October 2021. They last managed three in succession in Serie A back in January 2016, and with their first two victories in this current run seeing them score exactly three times in each, it’s attacking firepower that could well be the key to success in Milan.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored before half-time in Milan’s Europa League game, and three of his last four league goals, including Milan’s opener in the reverse fixture, (W 3-0) have also come in the first half. Empoli’s Emmanuel Gyasi tends to strike later, as his only H2H goal came deep in stoppage time in a win while he was at Spezia.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Milan have scored exactly one goal before half-time in six of their last eight home league games.[/p]