AC Milan failed to build on their impressive 4-0 win against Napoli, held to a 0-0 draw against Empoli at San Siro. Once again, the Champions League seems to have been a distraction for the Rossoneri.
On Wednesday night, Milan will take on Napoli in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. It’s a crucial game for the Rossoneri and it’s understandable that they are thinking about it already, but yesterday the edge was missing to get the win.
As highlighted by Corriere Della Sera (via MilanNews), Milan’s performances ahead of a Champions League clash have become a negative pattern. In fact, they have only one of their last four league games before a UCL game.
- Milan-Inter 3-2, before Salzburg-Milan.
- Sampdoria-Milan 1-2, before Milan-Dinamo Zagreb.
- Empoli-Milan 1-3, before Chelsea-Milan.
- Milan-Juventus 2-0, before Milan-Chelsea.
- Milan-Monza 4-1, before Dinamo Zagreb-Milan.
- Torino-Milan 2-1, before Milan-Salzburg.
- Milan-Torino 1-0, before Milan-Tottenham.
- Fiorentina-Milan 2-1, before Tottenham-Milan.
- Milan-Empoli 0-0, before Milan Napoli.
Having come to a late stage in the competition, Champions League that is, one can understand why it’s starting to weigh more on the players. It’s not just the group stage anymore, and the path to the final is ‘better’ than anyone could have dreamed of.
