Empoli vs. AC Milan: Winners and Losers from Serie A Match
No one really understands AC Milan just yet. They have scored 10 goals in four Serie A games but they have also conceded eight. Both numbers are the highest in the league.
What is certain is that Milan are exciting again. They play a sort of kamikaze football under coach Pippo Inzaghi, and the trend continued on Tuesday when they played and drew 2-2 with Empoli.
Milan let in yet another goal off a set piece and Daniele Bonera made another fatal mistake in defence.
Bonera has played under Carlo Ancelotti, Massimiliano Allegri, Clarence Seedorf and Inzaghi. But alas, he is there in the centre of defence, sprawling all over the 18-yard box and looking lost all the while.
But there was also good news. Fernando Torres scored a wonderful header and Ignazio Abate is still creating goals unlike any other period of his career.
Let's take a look at the winners and losers.
Fernando Torres with Encouraging Full Debut
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Torres had only 15 minutes against Juventus on his official debut. So Tuesday was his first real chance to impress, and boy did he ever.
Torres scored a looping header in the first half that fooled Empoli goalkeeper Luigi Sepe. It was absolutely perfect.
But the 30-year-old also did quite a bit of running, tracking back to defend and shadowing opponents.
There was a moment in the game when Torres was twisting and turning, and he looked like a man with it all to play for.
"Torres is done, they said. He's finished, they said. https://t.co/MJdUWRWlU0
— Anthony Lopopolo (@sportscaddy) September 23, 2014"
There is life to Torres and he appears to be ready to give himself to the team.
Mattia De Sciglio Looking Worse by the Game
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A couple of years ago, Mattia De Sciglio was the hottest young full-back in Europe. Now, not so much.
He has definitely regressed in the intervening years. De Sciglio is 21 and he certainly still has time to develop, but there were more worrying signs on Tuesday.
On several occasions, De Sciglio could not keep up with his man and had to kick them and bring them down instead. He was weak on the ball and he could not deliver a good cross. At one point on the left wing, he had to switch to his right foot. Perhaps he cannot play on the left.
De Sciglio ended the game with a yellow card and a lot more questions.
Ignazio Abate Gaining Momentum
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Ignazio Abate is already having a career year.
The 27-year-old made another two assists on Tuesday night, for a total of four in four games. That is more than he has managed in any previous Serie A season.
Jokes were made about him. In previous years, Abate would send several balls into orbit. But now he is playing like a legitimate winger, with Keisuke Honda (who scored his third goal of the season against Empoli) providing the necessary cover.
"Abate has definitely done his homework. pic.twitter.com/nfVts5jhiS -AL
— AC Milan Club NY/NJ (@ACMilanNYC) September 23, 2014"
Abate used to be a bit of a headless chicken: all speed and little purpose. But he is owning the right-back position at Milan.
Milan Still Lacking Good Defence
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Of course, there is the matter of defence, a chronic problem for years at Milan.
At least Inzaghi realized the severity.
"It was a game of two halves and we will try to fix these problems on set plays, which has been a Milan defect for a few years now," Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia).
Bonera is the worst of all. He does not know where to put himself or how to mark players. And yet he not only plays the games—he starts. Bonera is always trailing the play. He does not anticipate. He is simply not good enough.
Again, on Empoli's second goal, there was Bonera diving in with a last-gasp challenge. It was embarrassing.
Cristian Zapata is not much better. He hesitates and he tends to give the ball away.
De Sciglio also has problems with positioning.
These are issues which have remained unsolved for years, and Inzaghi must correct them before they come to define the season.
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