Stefano Pioli insists AC Milan’s focus in a “big week” is firmly on their opening test against Serie A strugglers Empoli.
Milan visit 19th-placed Empoli on Sunday ahead of two home games, the midweek Coppa Italia quarter-final against Atlanta and next weekend’s league showdown with Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
“It is definitely a big week with two league games and the Coppa Italia quarter-finals,” Milan manager Pioli said at his pre-match press conference.
“We are focused on the clash with Empoli. We want to do well in the league, we can win points but we have to perform well on the pitch.
“If we manage to pick up winning performances for a longer period, we will have overcome the momentary difficulties.
“Choices have been made given the aim of starting a balanced XI.
“The Coppa Italia (Tuesday’s 4-1 home win over Cagliari) gave some very young players a chance, they debuted because they have the quality to play with us, not out of necessity.
“We are fully focused on Empoli, after which we will have two days to work out what choices to make against Atalanta.”
Milan are unbeaten in five games in all competitions – four wins and a draw – since losing at Atalanta on December 9.
But the Rossoneri are 12 points adrift of league leaders Inter, albeit they do have a game in hand on their city rivals.
Milan need to address poor form on the road which has seen them fail to claim a Serie A win away from San Siro for three months.
Pioli said: “We made some errors that have stopped us from winning games when we could have done. We are working on resolving them.
“This is one of the elements that has punished us thus far, we clearly need to do better in the second half of the season.
“Winning (at Empoli) is the only thing that matters. Bringing home three important points means that you have put things back together.”
Nigeria striker Samuel Chukwueze has left for the Africa Cup of Nations, while fellow forward Noah Okafor remains out with a thigh injury sustained against Monza last month.
Pioli said: “I am lucky to have two centre-forwards like Olivier (Giroud) and Luka (Jovic), formation choices are never definitive because games can also be decided by coming on from the bench.
“My hope is that both of them will keep playing like this, remaining two key elements of the offensive line.
“Okafor will be available from the game against Roma and he will complete our roster, we have various personalities and resources up front.
“The directors are working in the market and they will be ready should any opportunities present themselves.”
Plymouth Argyle 2-2 Watford: Two-goal Gray rescues point for Rooney's side
Andre Gray scored twice against his former club to salvage a point for struggling Plymouth Argyle as they drew 2-2 with Watford on Friday.
Gray curled in an equaliser in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time to seal a crucial point for Wayne Rooney's side in their bid for survival in the Championship.
The visitors made a quick start at Home Park when Ivorian striker Vakoun Bayo bundled in a cross from Yasser Larouci only eight minutes in.
Plymouth did, however, equalise against the run of play in the 23rd minute when Lewis Gibson's long ball into the box was met with a spectacular volley from Gray.
Watford regained the lead before the break when Imran Louza's free-kick was knocked back by Mattie Pollock, with centre-back Ryan Porteous on hand to steer the ball home.
But just as it looked like Watford would go home with all three points, Gray picked up the ball on the edge of the area and fired home a stunning effort beyond Daniel Bachmann.
Tom Cleverley's Watford sit in fifth place and trail leaders Sunderland by five points, while Plymouth are 17th with 17 points from 16 matches.
Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Toulouse: Neves stars in comfortable home win
Paris Saint-Germain maintained their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a comfortable 3-0 win over Toulouse on Friday.
Following Monaco's 3-2 win over Brest earlier in the day, Luis Enrique's side responded emphatically to stay five points clear at the top of the table.
After a dominant start, PSG got themselves ahead in stunning fashion when Achraf Hakimi's cross was brilliantly driven first-time into the bottom corner by Joao Neves.
But Toulouse provided a threat after the break and should have drawn level in the 70th minute through Shavy Babicka, but he fired over with only Matvey Safonov to beat.
That mistake ultimately proved costly with the hosts doubling their advantage eight minutes from time when Beraldo took advantage of some poor defending to finish inside the box.
The triumph was sealed in the first minute of second-half stoppage time through substitute Vitinha, who danced into the box before finishing high into the corner from close range.
Luis Enrique's side will now turn their attentions to the Champions League, with a daunting trip to the Allianz Arena to face Bayern Munich awaiting on Tuesday.
Data Debrief: Party in Paris
PSG's dominance in Ligue 1 continued on Friday, with Luis Enrique's side now having lost just one of their last 41 matches in the top-flight (W30 D10).
Neves was a particular standout for the hosts, winning more duels (nine), registering the joint-most shots on target (two) and the joint-most final third entries (seven) during the game.
Despite the scoreline, PSG were perhaps fortunate to emerge victorious. Though Luis Enrique's side accumulated 17 shots to Toulouse's 11, it was the visitors who ended the contest with a higher expected goals (xG) total, managing 1.39 to the Parisiens' 1.35.
Bayern Munich 3-0 Augsburg: Hat-trick hero Kane smashes Bundesliga record
Harry Kane scored a hat-trick to become the quickest player to score 50 Bundesliga goals as Bayern Munich comfortably dispatched Augsburg 3-0 on Friday.
Kane opened the scoring in the 63rd with a penalty before netting a quickfire double in second-half stoppage time to smash the record previously held by Erling Haaland.
Despite controlling the early possession, Bayern were unable to make their dominance count, with Nediljko Labrovic rarely troubled in the opening 45 minutes.
The hosts maintained their dominance after the interval, with Leon Goretzka's looped header grazing the crossbar before Jamal Musiala went close soon after.
However, Bayern were awarded a penalty after a lengthy VAR review saw Mads Pedersen penalised for handling the ball, with Kane stepping up to score from 12 yards.
The England captain grabbed his second of the game in the third-minute of stoppage time following another VAR review which saw Keven Schlotterbeck sent off after tripping Kane inside the box.
Kane sent Labrovic the wrong way but was not to be denied a fourth treble of the season, brilliantly taking down Goretzka's searching ball before heading the ball home.
Data Debrief: HurriKane
Kane has now scored 50 Bundesliga goals in 43 matches. Before him, Haaland was the quickest player to reach 50 Bundesliga goals, having done so in 50 appearances in the competition for Borussia Dortmund.
He is also the quickest to reach that total for Bayern by some distance. Kane has reached that tally quicker than the likes of Gerd Muller (83 games), Mario Gomez (71 games), Roy Makaay (67 games) and Robert Lewandowski (64 games).
10 of Kane’s goals have come from penalties, while 32 of them have been with his right foot, nine with his left and nine with his head.
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