Subs save the day as starters struggle – Player ratings for Empoli-Milan from Italian papers | OneFootball

AC Milan left it until the second half to take care of matters against Empoli, but they did in the end thanks to goals from Rafael Leao and Santiago Gimenez.

After a goalless opening 45 minutes, the game erupted into life in the second half when Fikayo Tomori and Marianucci each saw red cards. Christian Pulisic set up both of Milan’s goals, the first a cross for Leao and the second some great hold-up play to get Gimenez his first since arriving.

The ratings from the papers

Starting with La Gazzetta dello Sport, they gave Milan’s overall performance a mark of 6.5 out of 10, the same as Sergio Conceicao’s management of the game got for his willingness to make bold changes at the interval.

Gimenez was given the highest rating with a 7, while Tammy Abraham struggled to make much happen after his midweek brace against Roma and got a 5.

Kyle Walker, Strahinja Pavlovic and Joao Felix each received a 6.5, while Fikayo Tomori (who saw red) and Youssouf Fofana were given a 5.5, and Alex Gimenez a 5. Pulisic and Leao got a 7 off the bench.

Corriere dello Sport meanwhile have Leao as the MOTM, giving him a 7 and Tomori a 4 because he compromised the entire game with his red.

Walker (6.5) was the only player in the starting line-up to get above a pass, with Fofana (5) and Jimenez (5.5) struggling to really get into the rhythm of the game.

Tuttosport praise the substitutes Leao, Pulisic and Gimenez by giving them a 7, while they echo the criticism for Tomori (4), Fofana (5.5) and also give Musah the same as the Frenchman. Tammy Abraham got a 5, too.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.