Serie A: Milan vs. Empoli
Milan - Empoli
Kick-off on Sunday, October 21 at 9:00 EST
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza ‘San Siro’
Milan are attempting to pick up right where they left off before the international break. The club had been struggling both in Italy and in the Champions League. However, their last match was a return to form, and a good indication of what Milan can be when they play at their best.
The 5-1 demolition of Lazio (in Rome, amazingly) two weeks ago was the highlight of their season so far, and it came so unexpectedly. Pretty much the entire side played well, but the man of the match was surely Kakà. He ran at the Lazio defense time and time again, with nary a challenger who could stop him. This was punctuated by his brace, and especially by his second goal. As a Lazio defender attempted to mob him in the box, he simply shrugged off the challenge, and then spun to shoot the ball just inside of the near post. Milan will probably have to play without Kakà for this match, however, as he is more than likely going to be rested, keeping in mind the effort he put out in the midweek World Cup qualifying victory for Brazil, not to mention the Champions League match on Tuesday against Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine.
Empoli must have felt good about themselves after the 3-1 home win over Palermo at the end of September, but those feelings were quickly lost when they put up consecutive 3-0 losses to FC Zurich in the UEFA Cup (eliminating them from the competition) and Siena, a fellow relegation battler.
All in all, the elimination from European play may be a blessing in disguise, as the side were clearly not able to cope with performing in two major competitions. They will now be able to try and climb back up the Serie A table, something they surprisingly did in the past two seasons following promotion from Serie B in 2005.
FORM GUIDE (last five domestic fixtures)
Milan
9/15 Siena 1-1 Milan Serie A
9/23 Milan 1-1 Parma Serie A
9/26 Palermo 2-1 Milan Serie A
9/30 Milan 1-1 Catania Serie A
10/7 Lazio 1-5 Milan Serie A
Empoli
9/15 Lazio 0-0 Empoli Serie A
9/23 Empoli 0-0 Napoli Serie A
9/26 Catania 1-0 Empoli Serie A
9/30 Empoli 3-1 Palermo Serie A
10/7 Siena 3-0 Empoli Serie A
TEAM NEWS
Milan will wait for Ronaldo to finally make his return to the field, as his fitness concerns have yet again delayed his debut this season. Captain Paolo Maldini is on the way back to fitness, as is Serginho, but neither will be ready for this match. With Kakà probably being rested, young French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff may get the playing time he is so desperately (and publicly, as evidenced by his comments to the press) craving. Empoli have a nearly fit squad, except for the injury to Vittorio Tosto. Also, Daniele Adani misses this match due to suspension.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alberto Gilardino (Milan) - Finally opened his goal scoring account for the season in the win against Lazio, getting two well deserved goals. He can either use that as motivation, or allow the booing of the Milan tifosi to weigh on him.
Nicola Pozzi (Empoli) - He was thought to be on the verge of becoming a great striker while on the books at Milan, but he did not progress quickly enough, and was off-loaded. He has a chance here to prove what he can do to his former employers.
POSSIBLE STARTING XI’s
Milan (4-3-2-1): Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Bonera, Favalli; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Gourcuff, Seedorf; Gilardino
Empoli (4-4-2): Balli; Raggi, Vanigli, Marzoratti, Antonini; Buscè, Giacomazzi, Marchisio, Moro; Pozzi, Saudati
PREDICTION
This match presents a great opportunity to both sides. For Milan, they have the chance to really get their season back on track; and for Empoli, they can use the defeats suffered at the hands of their previous opponents as motivation to start playing better and attain the positions in the table they enjoyed the past two seasons.
Milan 2-0 Empoli
Here are the 18 players called up by Carlo Ancelotti for Milan-Empoli:
GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Kalac;
DEFENDERS: Cafu, Favalli, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Oddo;
MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Emerson, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Pirlo, Seedorf;
STRIKERS: Gilardino, Inzaghi.