3️⃣ reasons not to miss Empoli-Milan on Saturday 🇮🇹 | OneFootball

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Defending Scudetto holders Milan make the trip to Tuscany on Saturday night to face Paolo. Zanetti’s Empoli.

This is why it is one to watch closely.

Milan must bounce back

Last time out before the international break, Milan were beaten at home by Napoli in a thriller that saw their conquerors rise to the top of the table.

They cannot afford a repeat of that result and Stefano Pioli will be aware of the need to send out a statement on their return to action.

Twice already this season, the Rossoneri have responded to a slip-up with an important win and while the stumbles themselves must stop, the need to bounce back when they do has been key for them.

On only four occasions in the past two full campaigns have Milan not dealt with a defeat by winning next time out.

Helpfully for those seeking an away win, Milan have lost just one of their last 11 meetings with Empoli and been victorious in their last three.

Empoli aim for overdue achievement

Empoli aren’t a club with an overly distinguished Serie A history, this being just their 14th season in the top flight.

They have had some memorable moments during those campaigns like Francesco Tavano’s goals firing them into Europe for the first time or the thrilling football under Maurizio Sarri with perhaps their most talented squad ever.

But the one thing fans of any generation are yet to witness is a win over Milan at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.

Of all 23 teams the Azzurri have faced in Serie A at least three times, the current champions are the only team they have never beaten, playing 14 times and losing seven, while drawing seven.

Could that finally change this time?

Stars in impressive form

For Milan, Olivier Giroud is chasing a goal in a fourth successive league game.

If he does it, he will have managed that feat for the first time since his Arsenal days in 2017, with the Frenchman showing no signs of slowing down as he ages.

Giroud has four in his first seven games to start this season (and scored for France last week too) and only once previously in his career has he enjoyed a better start to a campaign (netting five in 2014 with the Gunners).

For Empoli, one of their most standout performers in the early going this season has been flying left-back Fabiano Parisi, who is developing into a serious prospect.

He gained the nickname ‘the pendulum of Serino’ at his previous club Avellino for his inexhaustible energy in racing up and down the wing and this season he is showing why.

Only Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong and Nuno Tavares of Marseille have completed more than his 14 dribbles for a defender in the top five leagues this season and he’ll cause Davide Calabria plenty of problems on Saturday night.