Milan-Empoli 1-0, Kalulu scores the winning goal. Inter at -5

It will be ephemeral and potentially misleading, for heaven’s sake. Because you risk the optical illusion until Inter have faced Turin (Sunday evening) and then Bologna (who knows when). But right now that +5 in the ranking on cousins ​​is pure exaltation. And considerable pressure on the Nerazzurri. Mission accomplished with Empoli: the fears that followed the Naples undertaking evaporated. This is a Milan that – when it wants – knows how to impose itself even with those who are not doing well in the standings. And he knows how to do it at San Siro too. Victory with a short face, of course, dirty because it was suffered. But in mid-March there is no need to be picky and in fact Pioli on the eve had made it clear that it would be fine even so. With three points scored thanks to a fine billiard shot from Kalulu, a defender. The thousand resources of the Devil in front of an Empoli who continues to live on income thanks to the magnificent first round, but which now has not won in twelve games (12 December): so it begins to be excessive.

The choices

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Pioli can finally observe with satisfaction the (almost) empty infirmary – only Kjaer and Bakayoko remain in the pits – and be pleased with the abundance of solutions, especially in an offensive key. The Rossoneri coach compared to Naples changes the system, returning to the usual 4-2-3-1 but, apart from the suspended Hernandez replaced by Florenzi, he confirms the formation capable of breaking the Maradona. So Diaz on the bench and Kessie a few meters ahead of Tonali and Bennacer, with Messias on the right and Giroud in front. Romagnoli is recovered, but next to Tomori there is still Kalulu. Andreazzoli offers two novelties in defense, changing both full-backs compared to the assumptions made on the eve: in Fiamozzi and Cacace, with Stojanovic and Parisi on the bench. Forward Pinamonti, supported by Bajrami and Henderson. A triptych that practically never went on stage in the first half. In reality, Empoli tried to play Empoli at the dawn of the match, that is to play the ball and place themselves without embarrassment in the Rossoneri half, but their ambitions were wrecked in about ten minutes because Milan did not agree to be crushed. . And it has raised the center of gravity, increasing a pressure that in the remaining half hour has never failed.

Concreteness

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Thanks to the Rossoneri’s aggression against the Empoli ball carriers and the main sources of play: the double attacking midfielder Bajrami was canceled from the field (too many errors in support) -Henderson, Zurkowski caged by Tonali, Fiamozzi’s accelerations lost in thin air. The Devil may have struggled to find depth (especially with Leao and Messias), which the Tuscans did not concede, but he held the ball between his feet practically without opposing resistance. And it has become more and more concrete. After nine minutes Vicario flew to Florenzi’s left and in the 19th minute he passed: Giroud’s free-kick rejected by the barrier and picked up by Kalulu, who from over twenty meters shot a treacherous left on the grass and very angular, which left Vicario in statuary mode. It’s hard to see a goal scored so well in technical terms by a defender. Tuscan reaction? Poor, practically nothing, also because the Rossoneri continued to crush the whites in the last thirty meters. At the end of the day Milan still close to scoring twice, with Giroud and Kessie. Empoli not arrived in the Maignan area.

Balances

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In the second half the balance changed because Empoli came back with a less resigned spirit, while Milan appeared a little more distracted. In the first five minutes the Tuscans engaged Maignan twice, and the first with Luperto (lead) was a decidedly complicated save. Also in this case the Rossoneri reacted and shook off the opponent, but it was no longer a monothematic performance as in the first 45. Also because Milan lost its effectiveness in the offensive phase. Kessie struggled to support the maneuver, Leao disappeared from the radar, Messias turned on was not enough. Andreazzoli threw Cutrone in for Henderson: 4-3-1-2, which soon became 4-3-3 with the entry of Di Francesco in place of Bajrami (muscle problems). Pioli responded with Diaz and Saelemaekers for Kessie and Messias. And then with Ibra (Giroud) and Rebic (Leao). Fresh forces useful to buffer the Empoli assaults because the last quarter of an hour of the race did not pass away exactly calmly. The Tuscan trident has stung, pushed and the Devil had an evident anxiety to be mocked right at the sunset of the challenge. However, the dam held up, despite the worries, and the final whistle from Chiffi freed the Rossoneri world. Take off.