AC Milan passes Empoli to keep an eye on European Championship spots

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AC Milan beat Empoli 3-0 on Saturday, reducing the gap to the European places in Serie A to three points.

Alvaro Morata’s first league goal in over two months and great strikes in each half from Tijjani Reijnders were enough for Milan to claim a comfortable win at the foggy San Siro.

Milan remain seventh with 22 points, three points behind Juventus, who are in the Conference League and face Lecce on Sunday.

Paulo Fonseca’s side still have a game in hand but are six points adrift of the top four and a further point behind leaders Napoli ahead of their trip north to Turin on Sunday afternoon.

Empoli, who started the game with the fourth-best defense in the league, remain in 10th place after failing to score for the fifth straight game against Milan at the San Siro.

Saturday’s victory lifted the spirits of the 68,000 Milan fans who braved the chilly conditions and poor visibility due to fog that covered the pitch and stands at times, particularly in the first half.

Milan were loudly booed off the field after last weekend’s dismal goalless draw with Juventus, but the hosts were quickly at Empoli and never looked back as Morata scored his fourth goal of the season in the 19th minute.

Reijnders crashed in his own first attempt just before half-time and then secured the points with an impressive run and finish, taking his goal tally for the season to six.

Como and Monza both remain in the relegation zone after playing out a 1-1 draw in the afternoon game, while Bologna will face bottom side Venezia later.