Empoli-Milan, the dance of the 'ex'. De Sciglio and Colombo from the youth teams. Vasquez brought to Italy by Maldini. It will not be a trivial match for the three

by Simone CioniEMPOLITOring precious points in the key to salvation and redeeming the first half of the first leg, together with the one against Lecce at home are the only two incorrect approaches, are the main objectives of theEmpoli in the challenge next Saturday at 18pm at the Castellani-Computer Gross Arena against Milan. On paper, another prohibitive commitment, also in light of the substantial transfer market carried out by the Rossoneri. A match that will not be like the others for three Azzurri players: Mattia De Sciglio e Lawrence Colombo, who grew up in the Milan youth teams and Devis Vasquez, who arrived in Italy thanks to the Lombard club that currently still owns him, as does Colombo. Compared to the match just over two months ago, the Colombian goalkeeper has gone through an up-and-down period with some serious errors, alternating with excellent saves such as the two interventions at the Allianz Stadium against Juventus on Nico Gonzalez and Koopmeiners, showing good reactivity between the posts. His excellent reflexes are certainly his strong point, while he still needs to improve in his exits. In recent matches he has also become more confident with his feet, although lately he almost always tends to rely on the long throw.

Three goals and two assists in nine games is instead the loot of Columbo since the 3-0 first leg at San Siro. With the injuries of Pellegri and Solbakken, the weight of the Azzurri attack in recent months has fallen exclusively on his shoulders and those of Esposito. Despite everything, however, the striker from Vimercate has grown a lot, already equalling his Serie A goal record by mid-season, 5, proving himself at the same time to be a modern striker also capable of participating in the action and falling back in the defensive phase. In addition to being the one who shoots the most on goal for D'Aversa's team, 37 shots in total of which 17 on target (like Esposito), he is also fourth for key passes (14) together with Pezzella behind Henderson and Esposito and second for fouls suffered (29) behind his peer. Other data that demonstrate his self-denial in the non-possession phase are the 50 recoveries made so far.

Always victorious in the five previous occasions in which he faced the Milan as a former Juventus player, despite never taking to the field, in the first leg The Sciglio he was absent while on Saturday he is in the running for a starting shirt after his first goal in blue scored precisely as a former Juventus player. In this difficult moment his experience can be fundamental for the blue group and when he was called into question he also gave good technical guarantees.