Empoli 0-2 Milan: Leao and Gimenez score to seal 3 points for Rossoneri

Santiago Gimenez scored his first AC Milan goal as the Rossoneri overcame Empoli 2-0 at Stadio Carlo Castellani.

Match Report

Rafael Leao was also on target for Sergio Conceicao's side, who struck twice in the final quarter of the contest to maintain the pressure on the top four in Serie A.

Following a low-key first half, both sides were reduced to 10 men after the break.

Fikayo Tomori was shown a second yellow card in the 55th minute while, 10 minutes later, Luca Marianucci received a straight red card following a VAR review after kicking out at Gimenez.

Conceicao had introduced Leao, Gimenez and Christian Pulisic at half-time in a bid to generate a spark from Milan.

Two of them were involved as they took the lead in the 68th minute with Leao powering home a header from Pulisic's cross.

The USA international provided another assist eight minutes later by teeing up Gimenez, whose lovely curling effort moved the Rossoneri back to within five points of fourth-place Juventus.

Data Debrief: Gimenez seals victory with historic strike

Gimenez, who arrived from Feyenood earlier this week, became the first Mexican player to score for Milan in Serie A, and the third in the division overall after Johan Vasquez and Hirving Lozano.

The Rossoneri have now kept five straight clean sheets against Empoli; their joint-longest streak against a single opponent in Serie A (also five against Pisa between 1988 and 1991).

Meanwhile, Empoli are now without a win in nine matches and remain a point above the relegation zone.

Although, they did make history by fielding seven Italian players in their starting line-up for the first time in Serie A.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

2' Highlight from Empoli vs Milan

8' Highlight from Empoli vs Milan

15' Match Event for Empoli vs Milan

18' Highlight from Empoli vs Milan

21' Highlight from Empoli vs Milan

26' Highlight from Empoli vs Milan

32' Match Event for Empoli vs Milan

33' Match Event for Empoli vs Milan

45' Match Event for Empoli vs Milan

46' Match Event for Empoli vs Milan

50' Match Event for Empoli vs Milan

50' Highlight from Empoli vs Milan

53' Match Event for Empoli vs Milan

55' Red Card! Fikayo Tomori sent off

64' Red Card! Luca Marianucci sent off

68' GOAL! Empoli 0-1 Milan (Rafael Leão)

74' Match Event for Empoli vs Milan

76' GOAL! Empoli 0-2 Milan (Santiago Gimenez)

82' Highlight from Empoli vs Milan

Line-ups

Empoli XI: De Sciglio, A.Grassi, Liam Henderson, Emmanuel Gyasi, Pezzella, Devis Vásquez, Liberato Cacace, Lorenzo Colombo, Esposito, Mattia Viti, Luca Marianucci

Subs: Silvestri, Sambia, Kouame, Szymon Żurkowski, Saba Goglichidze, Darius Fălcușan, Jacopo Seghetti, Jacopo Bacci, Ismael Konate, Lorenzo Tosto, Brayan

Milan XI: Walker, Maignan, Tomori, Theo, Abraham, Felix, Reijnders, Yunus Musah, Youssouf Fofana, S. Pavlovic, Jimenez

Subs: Sportiello, Pulisic, Chukwueze, Gabbia, Santiago Gimenez, Sottil, Leao, Malick Thiaw, Terracciano, Davide Bartesaghi, Torriani, Francesco Camarda