Gazzetta: AC Milan 3-0 Empoli, player ratings
Another dominating performance from AC Milan. With three second-half goals from Piatek, Kessie and Castillejo, the Rossoneri beat Empoli 3-0.
A great match played at San Siro yesterday. The Rossoneri dominated against Empoli and now find themselves just one point behind third-place Inter. Surprisingly, a super Samuel Castillejo was AC Milan’s best player and man of the match in Milan-Empoli. The Spanish winger replaced in the possible way his compatriot Suso.
7.5 for the former Villarreal who participates in all the three goals of AC Milan. Castillejo initiated that attack that brought Piatek’s first goal, provides the winning assist for Frank Kessie and scores the third with a touch of great finesse. A delicious opportunity exploited in the best possible way and an important answer on the pitch to the voices that criticizes him as not worthy of Milan. Hakan Calhanoglu too continues his rebirth, 7 for the Turkish number 10.
This time he doesn’t score but nevertheless offers an assist and contributes a lot in the defensive phase. Same rating, 7, even for Krzysztof Piatek. The Polish striker is simply unstoppable and finds the back of the net with enviable continuity. Another good performance for Lucas Paqueta, 6,5. VAR denies him the joy of the second goal in Serie A but he’s the creative mind in midfield. 7 for Franck Kessie and 6.5 for Tiemoue Bakayoko.
The defense of AC Milan was not very busy yesterday. La Gazzetta rates Mateo Musacchio’s performances as the weakest amongst the Rossoneri. He deserves a 6 due to some mistakes that could have proven costly if Empoli had been more accurate. 6.5 instead for captain Alessio Romagnoli, author of another great performance. Excellent return for Andrea Conti who plays from the first minute after a year and a half and provides the assist of Castillejo’s third goal.
6.5 for Ricardo Rodriguez who shows no signs of exhaustion, 6 for Gianluigi Donnarumma who for the majority of the match was almost a non-paying spectator. 7 for coach Gennaro Gattuso who continues to shape a great Milan and see Champions League as an achievable goal. 6 for the two substitutes Patrick Cutrone and Fabio Borini.
MATCH SUMMARY
AC MILAN 3-0 EMPOLI
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Conti, Musacchio, Romagnoli, Rodriguez; Kessie, Bakayoko (80′ Biglia), Paquetá (69′ Borini); Castillejo, Piatek (69′ Cutrone), Calhanoglu. Subs: A. Donnarumma, Plizzari; Abate, Calabria, Laxalt, Strinic; Bertolacci, Mauri, Montolivo. Coach: Gattuso.
EMPOLI (3-5-2): Dragowski; Veseli, Silvestre, Dell’Orco; Di Lorenzo, Acquah (66′ Ucan), Bennacer, Krunic, Pasqual (74′ Pajac); Farias (66′ La Gumina), Caputo. Subs: Provedel; Diks, Maietta, Nikolau, Rasmussen; Brighi, Capezzi, Traoré; Oberlin. Coach: Iachini.
Referee: Piero Giacomelli from Trieste.
Goals: 49′ Piatek (M), 51′ Piatek (M), 67′ Castillejo (M).
Booked: 55′ Di Lorenzo (E), 71′ Calhanoglu (M).