Where to watch and formations of Empoli-Milan: debut Joao Felix starts from the 1st minute. Abraham favored over Gimenez

Empoli, 8 February 2024 – After the convincing victory in the Coppa Italia against Roma, which was worth access to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, Sergio Conceiçao's Milan resumes its championship journey from the "Computer Gross Arena - Stadio Carlo Castellani" where today at 18:XNUMX (live on TV and streaming-app on DAZN) they will face the home team Empoli which is going through a period of decline. The Tuscans have in fact won only one of the last twelve matches played (the one obtained by 4-1 against Verona on December 8th), suffering seven defeats and four draws in the remaining matches. Even the calculation of the precedents certainly does not smile on the white and blues, who have lost in 22 of the 38 matches played against Milan, compared to the only 4 victories suffered (at home Empoli have won only once in 18 matches) and 11 draws. A negative trend that D'Aversa's men, forced to deal with heavy absences such as the suspended Maleh and the injured Fazzini, Ismajli and Anjorin, they will have to try to reverse things starting from tonight's match against a Milan that, as mentioned, came out of the Coppa Italia match galvanized by winning 3-1 against Roma, but must respond to Juventus' success at Como to avoid losing ground in the race for a place in the Champions League. Among the Tuscans, it should be time for the debut, but not from the start, of the new signing Christian Kouamé, presented this week: "The first sensations are positive - said the former Fiorentina striker in the presentation press conference - and speaking with D'Aversa I immediately understood that Empoli could have been the right project for me who is looking for continuity and I can find it here". New faces from the start, however, for Milan who could propose in the starting eleven Joao Felix - immediately on target against Roma - and Kyle Walker, now already a fixed point on the right wing of the Rossoneri chessboard.  

D'Aversa and Conceiçao's choices

Mister D'Aversa should rely on 3-4-1-2: in the defensive trio as mentioned, the injured Ismajl will be missingi, but there will be the return of Viti who will be a department to support the goalkeeper Vasquez – who arrived from Milan – with Goglichidze and the former player of the day De Sciglio. Gyasi and Pezzella will instead be the outsiders of a midfield without Maleh and completed by the central players Grassi and Henderson. Cacace and Esposito will instead act behind the striker Colombo, who like De Sciglio also grew up at Milan. Conceiçao will instead focus on the 4-2-3-1 ready to change to 4-3-3 with several new features compared to the latest outings also in view of the Champions League commitments. The Thiaw-Gabbia duo returns to the centre of the defensive package in front of Maignan, with Walker and Theo Hernandez on the wings. The dam in front of the defence will instead be formed by Musah and Fofana. Rest, however, for Reijnders, who will not be deployed and will leave space for Sottil who will be deployed on the right of the attacking trio, alongside Joao felix (central) and Pulisic who will operate on the left in place of Leao, who is not in perfect condition due to an ankle problem. Finally, up front, Abraham is ahead of Gimenez for a starting spot.

Where to see it and formations

Times and where to watch the match on TV and streaming: the Empoli-Milan match, valid for one of the advance matches of the twenty-fourth day of the Serie A football championship, will be broadcast on Saturday 8 February 2025, from 18 pm, live and exclusively on television on DAZN and DAZN 1 and streaming on the DAZN app and website.

Probable lineups:

Empoli (3-4-2-1): Vasquez; Goglichidze, Viti, De Sciglio; Gyasi, Grassi, Henderson, Pezzella; Cacace, Esposito; Colombo. Coach D'Aversa. Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Walker, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Musah, Fofana; Sottil, Joao Felix, Pulisic; Abraham. All. Conceicao