The second "Man of the Match" award given by Serie A went to Christian Pulisic, who provided two assists. But the spotlight belongs entirely to AC Milan's Santiago Gimenez, who scored immediately on his league debut. And what a goal it was, a true center-forward finish, something Milan hadn't seen in a while.
Earlier, Milan's tricky away match against Empoli, played in rain, wind, whistles, and red cards, was steadied by Rafael Leao's opener, decisive even though he started on the bench for the second consecutive game.
Milan, a goal scorer is norn
Just like in his first 30 minutes of play, where he even assisted Joao Felix’s goal in the Coppa Italia against Roma, Gimenez started from the bench in Empoli. Coach Conceicao opted to start Abraham, keeping the Mexican as a lethal weapon off the bench. In hindsight, it was the right decision.
At halftime, when the Portuguese coach unleashed his full arsenal, Gimenez, Pulisic, and Leao, Empoli got scared. Yet, Tomori’s red card could have cost Milan dearly. That’s when Gimenez made his first key contribution: after a midfield clash with Marianucci, he went down after being caught in a sensitive area by the Empoli defender.
"He was clever," admitted Empoli’s coach D’Aversa bluntly. Even if so, cunning is a hallmark of elite strikers. Thanks to VAR, Marianucci was sent off, restoring numerical balance. Then, Gimenez became decisive again, sealing the game with Milan’s second goal. His trademark deep run—his specialty—was perfectly served by Pulisic. He took on Goglichidze one-on-one, shifted the ball onto his left foot, and fired past the helpless Vasquez.
"I'm grateful to the team and to God," said Milan’s new number 7 after the game. "Coming on was a good opportunity, and Serie A is always tough, right? You have to push hard as a team, and we did that." Few words, but clear ones: Milan doesn’t need Gimenez to talk—they need him to score.
Milan's Rafael Leao is back
The Portuguese left-winger, on the other hand, didn’t need words. He simply rose to meet Pulisic’s cross and nodded the ball into the net to make it 1-0. His celebration included a knowing glance toward Conceicao, putting to rest any potential controversy, as pointed out by La Gazzetta dello Sport in this morning's edition.
His second straight game on the bench, after all, wasn’t a tactical decision, Leao is dealing with pain of a minor ankle issue that has limited his playing time this season. In fact, in his last five matches, he has been subbed off three times (against Parma, Dinamo Zagreb, and Inter) and came off the bench twice (against Roma and Empoli).
This time, his entrance proved decisive, giving Milan a crucial goal to shake Empoli and keep them on course for a Champions League spot.
Now, eyes on Rotterdam
Speaking of the Champions League, Wednesday brings the first leg of a do-or-die clash in the Netherlands against Feyenoord, with a place in the Round of 16 at stake.
Will Rafael Leao be fit enough to start? And will Gimenez finally get his first start since arriving in Milan?
For Santiago, the return to Rotterdam—where he reigned for two and a half years—will be special.
"I'm expecting a lot of emotions," said the Mexican. "It will be tough, but also fantastic to face my former teammates. Feyenoord is family to me; they gave me so much."
Yes, they also gave him the chance to fulfill his dream of playing for Milan, ultimately giving in to the Rossoneri’s offer after a long negotiation.
But make no mistake: if the ball falls to Gimenez inside the box, he will show no mercy. That’s just how strikers are, not just clever, but ruthless.
