The 2018/19 Serie A campaign has exploded into life and fans are treated to some midweek action on Thursday night as Empoli host AC Milan following poor starts from both sides.

STATS

• Empoli are always one of the sides tipped for relegation in the Italian top-flight and their early season form reflects that. They have picked up just four points from their opening five games following a win a draw and three losses. Their only win so far came in the first game against Cagliari which was followed by defeats to Genoa, Lazio and Sassuolo as well as a goalless draw with Chievo.
• After more disappointment over the last couple of seasons, AC Milan’s beginning to the new campaign has been below par. Whilst they’ve played at least a game less than everyone else in the league, they are 16^th with just five points from four games. They began the season with a 3-2 loss against Napoli before beating Roma 2-1 and drawing with Cagliari and Atalanta. They started on the right foot in Europe with a 1-0 win over Dudelange.
• Empoli only have four goals from their opening five matches and Francesco Caputo has chipped in with half of those as he has two in the league.
• AC Milan have scored seven in their four games and like Caputo, both Gonzalo Higuain and Giacomo Bonaventura have scored two Serie A goals.

HEAD TO HEAD

Empoli hadn’t beaten AC Milan since 2007 before their 2-1 win against them the last time these two sides met in April 2017. Thursday’s visitors had won three and drawn three of the six meetings in that 10-year period, scoring 12 goals in the process. There have been over 2.5 goals in each of the last four meetings and both teams have scored in all seven of the last seven.

EMPOLI NEWS

An unlikely win for the hosts would take them 12^th in Serie A but a big loss could see them drop down to 18th in the table. They have a lot of injuries to contend with as Afriyie Acquah, Luca Antonelli and Lorenzo Polvani will all miss the clash.

Latest matches: FC Empoli

21.09.2018	Seri	US Sassuolo	FC Empoli	3:1	L
16.09.2018	Seri	FC Empoli	Lazio Roma	0:1	L
06.09.2018	Club	US Arezzo	FC Empoli	1:1	D
02.09.2018	Seri	AC Chievo Verona	FC Empoli	0:0	D
26.08.2018	Seri	Genoa FC	FC Empoli	2:1	L

AC MILAN NEWS

The visitors can move into the top half with a victory which could set them up to move into the top four with their other game-in-hand. Ivan Strinic has been confirmed as injured while Patrick Cutrone, Mattia Caldara and Davide Calabria are all doubts and face fitness tests.

Latest matches: AC Milan

23.09.2018	Seri	AC Milan	Atalanta Bergamasca	2:2	D
20.09.2018	UEFA	F91 Dudelange	AC Milan	0:1	W
16.09.2018	Seri	Cagliari Calcio	AC Milan	1:1	D
31.08.2018	Seri	AC Milan	AS Roma	2:1	W
25.08.2018	Seri	SSC Napoli	AC Milan	3:2	L

SUMMARY

AC Milan will expect to put a poor start behind them and overcome Empoli on Thursday night. However, their record against the minnows would suggest that they will concede so backing both teams to score might be wise. It’s hard to see anything other than a Milan win especially with all of Empoli’s injury worries.