11th placed AC Milan host an Empoli side four points above the relegation zone on Sunday with the home manager under huge pressure due to a disappointing season so far.
The loss against Juventus was Milan’s fourth in their last five games while the visitors have won just once in their last 10 games in all competitions. Filippo Inzaghi must ensure that Milan pick up three vital points to be in the race for continental football next season.
AC Milan
Philippe Mexes remains suspended as he serves his four match ban but the likes of Giampaolo Pazzini and Suso might start in what would be the latter’s league debut having joining from Liverpool.
New signing Mattia Destro will return to the line-up and start alongside Jeremy Menez and Keisuke Honda.
Riccardo Montolivo and Nigel de Jong will miss out through injuries which makes the trio of Giacomo Bonaventura, Andrea Poli and Marco van Ginkel as the probable midfield partnership.
Stephan El Shaarawy, Cristian Zapata, Mattia De Sciglio, and Ignazio Abate are also ruled out through injuries.
Possible starting line-up: Diego Lopez; Zaccardo, Alex, Paletta, Antonelli; Giacomo Bonaventura, Andrea Poli, Marco van Ginkel; Honda, Destro, Menez
Empoli
Empoli have made their return to the Serie B after a long time and are showing signs of staying up without too much discomfort. They are miserly in defence compared to the teams around them and have conceded the joint fewest goals of the 12 teams below Torino in 8th.
Empoli recorded their first win in 10 games as goals from Massimo Maccarone and Franco Signorelli gave them a 2-0 win over Cesena to climb up to 15th position in the table.
Maurizio Sarri could field an identical line-up as they look to pile on the misery at San Siro with only the duo of Tibero Guarente and Riccardo Saponara being unavailable through injury.
Possible starting line-up: Sepe; Hysaj, Rugani, Tonelli, Rui; Signorelli, Valdifiori, Croci, Verdi, Maccarone, Pucciarelli
Facts
Milan have not won two consecutive games since October.
Empoli have won two and lost two of their last 10 matches in the Serie A.
Milan were 2-0 down at the Stadio Carlo Castellani in the reverse fixture before recovering to draw the game.
In the last 19 Serie A meetings between the two sides Empoli have won twice while have Milan 12 wins.
Empoli have a decent away record drawing six of their 10 games on the road and winning once.
Prediction
Milan need to start picking up points and home games are a must win. They have a depleted squad through injury, and might struggle to break down the resilient visitors.