Serie A | Milan 0-0 Empoli: VAR frustrates Rossoneri

Milan were held to a goalless draw by Empoli at San Siro after VAR intervened twice, to revoke a penalty and disallow Olivier Giroud’s last-minute goal, while Alessandro Florenzi hit the woodwork.

The Rossoneri were fresh off a surprise 4-0 victory away to leaders Napoli and preparing to face them again in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday. Rafael Leao was not fully fit, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pierre Kalulu still out, so they rotated while sticking with the 4-2-3-1 formation. Lorenzo Tonelli sat out a ban for the Tuscans with Guglielmo Vicario injured, having just ended their eight-game winless streak by beating Lecce.

After long periods of possession, Milan twice tested Samuele Perisan with angled drives from Ante Rebic and then Theo Hernandez on the rebound.

At the other end, Roberto Piccoli flicked on a cross, but Ciccio Caputo’s heavy first touch allowed Mike Maignan to smother, while Sandro Tonali’s low curler was held.

Fikayo Tomori floated a dangerous ball over the top, but Rebic ballooned over the bar, while Tommaso Pobega’s strike was deflected just wide and Divock Origi tried an acrobatic flick on the Theo Hernandez knockdown.

Theo Hernandez had penalty appeals waved away for a Jacopo Fazzini tackle from behind, then moments later Saelemaekers had a shot deflected off Koni de Winter’s arm, but it was across his chest and not making his body any bigger.

The referee did point to the spot soon after for handball, but it was revoked after the VAR review, as Tyronne Ebuehi did jump with a flailing arm, but the ball hit the back of his head instead.

Sandro Tonali tracked back for a decisive tackle to stop the counter from Nicolò Cambiaghi and Alessandro Florenzi’s cross only grazed Origi’s head.

Milan were not finding the breakthrough, so threw on Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao for the final 20 minutes. Florenzi was unlucky not to score on 76 minutes with a smart right-foot volley that smacked against the base of the near post.

There was a double opportunity, Saelemaekers seeing his effort deflected into the path of Giroud at the back post, but Perisan made a fantastic save one-on-one to deny Brahim Diaz at the near post after a smart Giroud back-heel flick.

Giroud thought he’d scored at the 89^th minute on a Florenzi chest and volley cross, but VAR showed he had headed the ball onto his arm when leaping over the defender, so it was disallowed.

San Siro is clearly a happy hunting ground for Empoli, who already beat Inter here earlier this season.

Milan 0-0 Empoli