MY ACCOUNT
Milan missed the opportunity to further boost their top four hopes as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Empoli on Friday.
The Rossoneri went into their Serie A clash at San Siro looking to take advantage after rivals Inter could only draw with Salernitana earlier in the day.
But Stefano Pioli’s side ultimately also had to settle for a point as Paolo Zanetti’s visitors stubbornly kept them at bay despite Milan fashioning a number of opportunities, while Olivier Giroud saw a late goal disallowed for handball.
It marked a disappointing lead-in for the hosts as they prepare to face league leaders Napoli in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Milan wasted little time pursuing an opener, and back-to-back attempts from Ante Rebic and Theo Hernandez in the 13th minute forced a pair of saves from Samuele Perisan, while Sandro Tonali also went close six minutes from the interval.
Empoli continued to be besieged at the back following the break, with defender Tyronne Ebuehi eventually surviving a penalty call that had been given for handball, overturned after a VAR check on the hour mark.
The arrival of Giroud and Rafael Leao added fresh life into Milan’s attack, with the latter going close in the 73rd minute following Alessandro Florenzi’s cross.
It looked as if Giroud might have spared his side’s blushes when he had the ball in the net in the 89th minute, only for the VAR to rule it out for handball against the French striker, ultimately ensuring the hosts were kept at deadlock.
What does it mean? Milan made to rue missed chances
With Inter’s draw earlier on Friday, the other half of the city would have hoped to punish that lapse and help build a gap between the two.
There was no such luck however, with Milan struggling to break down their resolute opponents after resting a number of their key players.
Pioli’s men now head into their Champions League tie after producing a performance a world away from their 4-0 success at Napoli last week.
Rossoneri dominate without reward
It was certainly not for a lack of trying when it came to Milan’s misfortune in front of goal, as they mustered an impressive 23 shots.
But with just four of them on target, they ultimately found it tough to seriously cause concern for Empoli, who only had two attempts of their own.
Tonali with the key touch
Tonali enjoyed a busy game in the creative engine room of Milan’s attack.
His three key passes were the joint-most in the game, while he enjoyed a 92.2 per cent pass completion rate as well.
Key Opta facts
– Empoli kept a clean sheet against Milan in Serie A for the first time since October 21, 2007 (1-0 in favour of the Tuscans at San Siro).
– Milan have drawn two home matches in a row in Serie A for the first time since November 2020.
– The Rossoneri failed to score in a home Serie A match for the first time since last April (0-0 against Bologna).
– Empoli have drawn the most matches in Serie A this season: 11, level with Udinese and Salernitana.
What’s next?
Milan face Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, while Empoli travel to Cremonese in Serie A next Friday.
