AC Milan secured a convincing 3-0 win over Empoli at a foggy San Siro, with Tijjani Reijnders making a significant impact by scoring two goals. The match began with Alvaro Morata putting Milan ahead, setting the stage for a much-needed victory as the Rossoneri aimed to bounce back from a series of mixed results in Serie A.
Coming off a thrilling 3-2 Champions League triumph against Slovan Bratislava, Milan was eager to improve their performance in the league after drawing their last two matches against Cagliari and Juventus. Morata returned from suspension to join forces with Rafael Leao, although the team was still missing key players like Luka Jovic, Ismael Bennacer, and Alessandro Florenzi. Empoli also faced injury challenges, with several players unavailable, including Nicolas Haas and Mattia De Sciglio.
The match kicked off with early excitement as Youssef Maleh blocked an Emerson Royal volley with his face. Milan’s goalkeeper Devis Vasquez made a crucial fingertip save to deny Morata’s angled shot. Reijnders had a chance as well, but his attempt was deflected wide by Liam Henderson.
Milan opened the scoring when Leao’s shot in the box was deflected into Morata’s path, allowing him to find the net from nine yards out. Despite Pulisic’s missed opportunity shortly after, where he shot over after intercepting Mattia Viti, Milan doubled their lead just before halftime. Pulisic headed down a cross for Reijnders, who expertly finished with a half-volley into the far bottom corner from 14 yards.
After halftime, Empoli’s Maleh nearly brought his team back into contention with a powerful shot that struck the crossbar. However, Reijnders secured his brace with an impressive solo effort, starting from midfield and drilling the ball through Ardian Ismajli’s legs into the near bottom corner.
In the final moments of the match, Francesco Camarda came close to scoring with an overhead kick that narrowly missed the top corner. Meanwhile, Tammy Abraham failed to convert a close-range chance from a Samuel Chukwueze cross.
Goals: Morata 19 (M), Reijnders 44, 69 (M)
Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Gabbia (75′ Pavlovic), Thiaw, Theo Hernandez; Reijnders, Fofana (75′ Loftus-Cheek); Musah (75′ Chukwueze), Pulisic, Leao (’84’ Camarda); Morata (’81’ Abraham).
Empoli (3-5-2): Vasquez; Goglichidze (71′ Marianucci), Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Maleh, Henderson, Anjorin (66′ Esposito), Pezzella (46′ Cacace); Pellegri (78′ Ekong), Colombo (46′ Solbakken).
