AC Milan decimate Empoli to go second in Serie A

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AC Milan hit two quickfire second-half goals to win 4-1 at Empoli and move second in Serie A.

With Roma not in action until Sunday, the Rossoneri kept the pressure up on leaders Juventus, with Gianluca Lapadula grabbing a brace.

Empoli, battling for points at the other end of the table, could have taken an early lead when Massimo Maccarone shot wide.

Instead, the visitors went ahead on 15 minutes after Lapadula swept the ball into the bottom corner following a break down the right.

Empoli had not scored in their past five home matches, but were level just two minutes later when Riccardo Saponara lashed a loose ball home after Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma palmed a cross back out to the edge of the box.

Milan eventually took charge of the match when they scored twice in quick succession just after the hour.

Defender Ignazio Abate got away down the right and cut the ball back to Spanish midfielder Suso, who guided it past Lukasz Skorupski on 61 minutes.

Before Empoli could regroup, they fell further behind.

Giacomo Bonaventura surged down the left channel and whipped a low ball across the six-yard box which Andrea Costa could only deflect into his own net.

After Mario Pasalic had seen a close-range goal ruled out for offside in the build-up, Lapadula made it 4-1 with 13 minutes to go.

He cut back inside on to his left foot and sent a deflected shot down into the far corner.