Serie A | Milan 3-0 Empoli: Reijnders double delight | OneFootball

Tijjani Reijnders scored twice at a foggy San Siro after Alvaro Morata’s opener, as Milan swept Empoli aside for a much-needed 3-0 victory.

The Rossoneri were coming off a 3-2 Champions League win away to Slovan Bratislava, but back-to-back disappointing Serie A stalemates with Cagliari and Juventus, so the pressure was on. Morata returned after suspension with Rafael Leao, but Luka Jovic, Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi were long-term absentees. The Tuscans were unbeaten in three, but Nicolas Haas, Mattia De Sciglio, Alberto Grassi, Saba Sazonov, Jacopo Fazzini, Tyronne Ebuehi and Szymon Zurkowski were injured.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Youssef Maleh charged down an early Emerson Royal volley with his face after the Rafael Leao run, while Milan-owned goalkeeper Devis Vasquez got down for a decisive fingertip save to push Morata’s angled drive past the far post.

Reijnders also saw his strike deflected wide by Liam Henderson, but Milan broke the deadlock when Rafael Leao saw his effort charged down in the box, it ricocheted into the path of Morata to pounce on the half-volley from nine yards.

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 30: Alvaro Morata of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Empoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 30, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Pulisic fired over the bar after robbing Mattia Viti, when he had better options to set up, but they doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time.

Pulisic nodded down a cross from the right, Reijnders let it bounce and wrapped his right foot around it on the half-volley to smash into the far bottom corner from 14 yards.

Maleh threatened to get Empoli back into it after the restart, hitting a scorcher from outside the area that rattled the crossbar beyond Mike Maignan’s glove.

However, Reijnders completed his brace with a wonderful solo effort, starting the run from midfield and making the most of Rafael Leao’s run to draw away a defender, drilling the finish through Ardian Ismajli’s legs into the near bottom corner.

Francesco Camarda threatened to score an extraordinary goal with his overhead kick turning Emerson Royal’s cross not far wide of the top corner from 12 yards.

Tammy Abraham also came sliding in at the back post, prodding the Samuel Chukwueze cross wide from point-blank range.

Milan 3-0 Empoli

Morata 19 (M), Reijnders 44, 69 (M)