In the early morning of March 13, Beijing time, the 29th round of Serie A ushered in a focus battle: the leader AC Milan hosted the weak team Empoli.
Before the match, AC Milan led the Serie A table with 60 points in 28 games, 2 points ahead of Inter Milan in the first round of the junior round, and 3 points ahead of Napoli.
AC Milan played strong teams with excellent records, such as a 2-1 away win over Inter in the 24th round and a 1-0 away win over Napoli in the 28th round. But there were too many points lost on weak teams, such as the 26th round, the 27th round was forced to draw by Salernitana and Udinese, and the 22nd round lost 1-2 at home to Spezia.
Although they are 13th in the Serie A table, this promoted team is not necessarily stronger than Spezia and Salenitana.
In the campaign, AC Milan started 4231, Giroud continued to serve as the starting center, leo, Casey and Messias on the forward line, double backs Bennacer and Tornelli, four defenders Florenc, Tomori, Kalulu, Calabria, goalkeeper Menion. The total value of the starting eleven is 270 million euros, which is about six times that of the opposite starting eleven, and the gap in strength is huge.
Ibrahimovic, who recently returned from injury, continues to sit on the bench.
Empoli started 4321, Pinamonti single arrow. The total value of the starting eleven is 46.2 million euros.
In the 8th minute, Leo broke through the wing to create a chance, Casey crossed diagonally and Florenc's shot was saved by the opposing goalkeeper.
In the 10th minute, Calabria crossed and the defender broke free and hit Tonali off the post.
In the 17th minute, Casey took the ball and was knocked down by Bandinelli, AC Milan won a free kick in front of the field, Giroud took the penalty, the direct shot was blocked by the wall, Kalulu took the ball and shot from a distance, the ball was scored! AC Milan led Empoli 1-0.
In the 35th minute, Leo made the ball on his heels and Florenc whipped it high.
In the 37th minute, Pinamonti's shot from inside the penalty area went high over the crossbar.
In the 42nd minute, Calabria crossed from the right and Giroud's header was high on goal.
In the 43rd minute, Leo forced a cross from the left and Giroud's shot was blocked.
In the 44th minute, AC Milan's free kick in front of the goal, Giroud's header was deflected by the goalkeeper, and then Olivier Giroud and Casey's consecutive shots were also blocked.
After the start of the second half, Empoli played a series of threatening attacks. In the 49th minute, Lupeto's header hit the goal and Mineng flew in. In the 51st minute, Empoli's corner kick was deflected by Menion, and in the ensuing chaos, Mineon took the ball again.
In the 62nd minute, Milan's veteran Kutrone came on as a substitute against his old club.
In the 82nd minute, Ibrahimovic came off the bench to replace Olivier Giroud, while Rebić replaced Leo.
In the end, with Kalulu's goal, AC Milan won 1-0 at home to Empoli, accumulating 63 points in 29 games to continue to lead the Serie A table, and the lead over the second place Inter Milan has expanded to 5 points, but Inter missed two rounds. In this round of Inter's away game against the weak turin, the victory should not be a big problem.
With 63 points in the first 29 rounds, it was Milan's best time in the same period since the 2011-12 season. In the 2011-12 season, AC Milan also accumulated 63 points in the first 29 rounds, when it ranked second in the Serie A table, that season, AC Milan failed to defend its title, and the final champion was Juventus, who has since opened a nine-game championship in the First Division.
Kalulu, who scored the winning goal in this match, scored for the first time this season for AC Milan. It is worth mentioning that in September 2020, AC Milan only spent 480,000 euros when it brought in Kalulu from Lyon.