Kaka in the spotlight as Empoli travel to Milan

European Leagues / Dan Fitch / 19 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

Dan "The Betting Man" Fitch previews Empoli's visit to Milan on Sunday at 14:00

In May of this year, things really couldn't have looked more rosy for the Rossonieri. Revenge exacted in Champions League final over the jammy Scousers? Check. Brazilian midfield playmaker now generally accepted as being much better than the goofy looking one from Barcelona? Check. Not caught getting up to any more crafty antics that will result in having to start the league season with minus 8 points? Check.

Everything was going in Milan's direction and all that was left to do, was prove that Inter were no match for them on a level playing field. Somehow though, everything has since gone wrong. Milan now sit glumly in eighth place, whilst flatmates Inter peer down from the top of Serie A, with 7 points daylight between them. Even the Champions League has not been the safe haven that it's proved in recent years. As if losing to Celtic isn't already embarrassing enough, Dida made Milan the laughing stock of YouTube, with a fall to the ground that was so leisurely it could have involved a parachute.

This Sunday sees the visit of lowly Empoli to the San Siro and a win is vital. Milan have drawn all three of their home games this season, against sides as varied in quality as Fiorentina, Parma and Catania. Having been backed as low as 2.3 to win Serie A, they were matched as high as 8, before settling down to the current price of 6. This recent fall in price came as a result of Milan finally clicking into gear with a 5-1 away win at Lazio, which saw Gilardino (34 to be Serie A top scorer) trying his utmost to not blub like a child, as he netted his first goals in 171 days.

One Milan striker yet to break his duck this campaign is Ronaldo, though judging by his waistline he may have eaten a few. The once svelte Brazilian (100... that's his top scorer price, not the waist measurement) was tipped to make his return to action this weekend. However, Carlo Ancelotti has indicated that he's in no hurry to rush Ronaldo back, so the most we can probably expect is a place for him on a no doubt buckling bench.

Berlusconi may have a monopoly on most things in Italy, but not when it comes to underperforming in Serie A this season. Though expectations are much lower at Empoli, the Tuscany minnows will want better than the 18th position that they currently occupy. Following their promotion in 2005, Empoli finished the 2005-2006 season in 11th place, only to be catapulted up the league to 8th following the match fixing scandal. To their surprise, Empoli had qualified for the UEFA Cup. In fact, such a surprise was this qualification, that Empoli had failed to asked for a UEFA license and were not allowed to compete. Well, who wants to play on Thursday nights anyway?

Evidently, Empoli did. As they finished in 7th place last season, to this time qualify for real. Unfortunately, it's not just good things that come to those that wait and Empoli crashed out of the UEFA Cup in the first round. They now face a trip to Milan having failed to win an away match this season and are available at a price 2.26 to be relegated.

Despite Milan's rocky start, they are fancied at just 1.28 to take their first home points. This may be a little slim given that this match comes after an international break and though Milan will surely win, it may be prudent to wait for the price to rise a little in-play. On the back of the Lazio goalfest, a price of 1.86 for over 2.5 goals may also prove good value, with Kaka having already netted 6 times this season. Come to think of it, if Dida takes as long to hit the deck as he did against Celtic, maybe we should all be backing over 4.5 goals.

You can watch the match live on Betfair for free!!
http://livevideo.betfair.com/

Other sites:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team?id=2574&cc=5739

http://www.acmilan-online.com/games.php

http://www.acmilan.com/InfoPage.aspx?id=51064