Match Today: AC Milan vs Empoli 01-10-2022 Serie A

AC Milan's Scudetto holders will be looking to get back on their winning ways when they make the trip to Empoli on Saturday.

Defending champion AC Milan returned to action on Saturday night when they face Empoli in Serie A. The match marks the return of domestic action after the two-week international break. Empoli have won just three of their past 28 Serie A matches in a sobering streak going back to last December. Their first win of last season in Bologna relieved some of the pressure that had begun to grow on Paolo Zanetti - although they have lost only one of their six league matches this season, drawing in four in the process. The hosts are currently 14th in the table with seven Points and they will have to play out of their skin to get something out of this clash against the Milan side that doubled over them last season, and are running a three-game winning streak against them. Hmm. Milan have lost only once of their past 11 Serie A matches against Empoli Empoli have never defeated Serie A Milan at home, with their only home win in the Coppa Italia in 1986. The hosts have not won at home this season. In Serie A, while the visitors are unbeaten on their travels this season in fact, Stefano Pioli's side are unbeaten in their last 15 Serie A away matches. Empoli have won just one of their eight games in all competitions this season.

Meanwhile, Milan are seeking to regain their balance after their first defeat of the season ahead of the international break. The team suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at home at the hands of rivals Napoli, where substitute Giovanni Simeone scored the winning goal after Milan equalized the tie through Olivier Giroud. The Rossoneri are currently fifth in the Italian league table, three points behind the league leaders, Napoli and Atalanta. Despite being the favorites, they have been far from the most convincing holders in the early parts of the season, with two disappointing draws on the road in Serie A this season, but their trips to Atalanta and Sassuolo have always been a tough one. However, Stefano Pioli's side need to be more consistent, and a solid victory over Empoli this weekend will not do them any harm as they look to start this crucial and packed six-week match in style ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Razvan Marin is expected to start in midfield, with Nicholas Haas and captain Filippo Bandinelli on either side of the Romanian playmaker. The central block will be tasked with stifling Milan's creative players with intense pressure and dominating the center of the park. Stefano Pioli received a variety of updates on the team's news page ahead of their trip to Empoli. Mike Minnian (muscular) and Teo Hernandez (muscular) join long-term absentees Divock Origi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the sidelines, although Minnian is likely to return to action at the end of October. The positive news is that both Sandro Tonali and Davide Calabria have been announced. Milan will likely publish a 4-2-3-1 method, but Pioli will make several changes from the defeat to Napoli before the international break, with second keeper Cibrian Tatarusano being the keeper. base for Milan for most of October. A match, with Minyan currently recovering from an injury. In defence, Fikayo Tomori is a sure starter, and Pierre Kalulu should get a nod ahead of Simon Kjaer as the center back at the heart of Milan's backline. Fode Palo Toure is likely to fill Hernandez's left-back slot, with captain David Calabria occupying the usual right-back position.