One-sided numbers and captain clutch: All the key stats from Empoli vs. AC Milan | OneFootball

AC Milan’s trip to Tuscany was a worthwhile one in the end as they returned with three points thanks to a 2-0 win over Empoli on Saturday night.

All of the drama came in an action-packed second 45 minutes, starting with Fikayo Tomori seeing red for two yellow cards and then Luca Marianucci getting his marching orders for a kick-out at Santiago Gimenez.

Rafael Leao gave Milan the lead with a header at the far post after Christian Pulisic’s deep cross, then Pulisic teed up Gimenez for his first goal since arriving, a finish that showed why he is the €35m man. Below are the best stats from the game.

A dominant stat line

The numbers below would have you think that Milan fully dominated the game against Empoli and while that was not the case, it does provide some perspective as to the quality of the chances created and the danger generated.

Milan had 62% of the ball, a higher Expected Goals tally, three big chances to zero for the home side, double the total shots, five shots on target to Empoli’s zero and triple the amount of corners.

Santi starts with a bang

Santiago Gimenez became the first Mexican player to score for Milan in Serie A history; overall, the third in the top league (after Hirving Lozano and Johan Vásquez).

All five of Rafael Leão’s goals this Serie A season have been scored away; among players who have scored all their goals away from home this season, none have as many as the Portuguese.

Milan have kept a clean sheet in their last five league games against Empoli, only against Pisa do they have an equally long open streak of consecutive clean sheets in Serie A (five between 1988 and 1991).

Captain Clutch and the enigma

We simply must highlight the impact of the Player of the Match off the bench: Christian Pulisic. Of course he got the two assists, getting two in a single Serie A match for the first time in the top league, but there were more impressive numbers too.

He had a 92% pass completion rate with 11/12, he won both of the two tackles he attempted, two ground duels out of three, had one recovery and 19 touches of the ball.

Joao Felix’s performance meanwhile was enigmatic. He was at the heart of the danger created in the first half and also in the second but couldn’t add to the goal he got in midfield against Roma.

He had 53 touches across his 84 minutes, with 20/26 passes completed (77%), four shots off target (one on), two big chances missed, nine ground duels won (out of 16) and 17 times possession lost.