Prediction: AC Milan vs Empoli

Verdict: Total goals under 2.5

Best odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: 888sport

AC Milan are set to welcome Empoli to San Siro in one of the three matches within the 29th round of the Serie A campaign being played on Friday. Before that, Inter Milan will play away to Salernitana, and Napoli travel to Lecce, as they, along with Milan, prepare for their engagements in the quarterfinals of the Champions League next week.

AC Milan

Speaking of the Champions League, Milan will face Napoli, at home in the first leg on Tuesday. Though they comprehensively beat the runaway Serie A leaders in Naples last week, Stefano Pioli’s men will have to find a way to hold their focus on Empoli first.

The 0-4 triumph at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona put an end to a four-game winless streak, preceded by a fine run of form. In all competitions, the last-six run includes a 2-0 home win over Atalanta, a 2-1 defeat away to Fiorentina, a 0-0 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of their Champions League clash in the round of 16, a 1-1 draw at home against Salernitana, and a 3-1 defeat away to Udinese, before the win in Naples.

With Napoli still far away in the Serie A table, there are six teams competing for the remaining three Champions League spots. The Rossoneri sit third at the moment with 51 points, four less than Lazio in second, one more than Inter in fourth and AS Roma in fifth, three more than Atalanta, and seven more than Juventus.

The Naples triumph will surely boost the confidence of the still reigning Italian champions, but they will want to make sure in doesn’t go to their heads and make them underestimate the opposition on Friday.

Team News

There are no confirmed absentees for Milan ahead of this clash, but having missed the Naples trip, forwards Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Junior Messias (both thigh) and defender Pierre Kalulu (calf) will be assessed before a decision on their inclusion is made.

Mike Maignan will be in goal, with Simon Kjaer and Fikayo Tomori set to continue as the centre-back pair, flanked by Theo Hernandez on the left and Davide Calabria on the right. Sandro Tonali and Ismael Bennacer are expected to join Rade Krunic in the middle of the park. Olivier Giroud should start upfront, with Rafael Leao and Brahim Diaz out wide.

Empoli

A look at the bottom side of the Serie A table says that Cremonese, Sampdoria and Hellas Verona appear set for relegation, with six points separating Verona in 18th from Spezia in 17th, though nothing is, of course, set in stone at this stage. Empoli are, on the other hand, a lot more comfortable in that aspect, sitting 14th with 12 points more than Verona, six more than Spezia, four more than Lecce, and three more than Salernitana.

Meanwhile, Paolo Zanetti’s team won only one of their last six matches, the last one, 1-0 at home against Lecce, courtesy of a solitary strike from the spot by Francesco Caputo. Before that, they drew 1-1 away to Fiorentina, lost 0-2 at home to Napoli, lost 2-1 away to Monza, lost 0-1 at home to Udinese, and lost 2-1 away to Atalanta. Not a particularly impressive run of form, even for a team cemented in the lower half of the league table.

Team News

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is expected to return, having recovered from a concussion, but defender Lorenzo Tonelli is suspended after picking up a red card while on the bench against Lecce.

With Vicario in goal, Tyrone Ebuehi and Fabiano Parisi should play either side of centre-backs Sebastiano Luperto and Ardian Ismajli at the back. Captain Filippo Bandinelli, Razvan Marin and Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro should play in midfield, with Tommaso Baldanzi just behind strikers Caputo and Roberto Piccoli.

Conclusion

Milan shouldn’t have too many difficulties in this match. They’ll seek to take the lead as soon as possible and hold onto it, without wanting to risk too much going forward and with the Napoli clash next week in mind too.

Verdict: Total goals under 2.5

Best odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: 888sport