Serie A LIVE - AC Milan travel to Empoli looking to close gap on leaders Inter Milan

Olivier Giroud scored his 10th goal of the season from the penalty spot as AC Milan comfortably beat Empoli 3-0 in Tuscany.

After a scrappy start, The Rossoneri eventually found their rhythm and took the lead when Rafael Leao's pass found Ruben Loftus-Cheek whose first time effort inside the box found the bottom corner.

Stefano Pioli's side made it two from the penalty spot after a VAR check spotted Youssef Maleh's handball. Giroud stepped up and fired his spotkick in off the underside of the bar.

Both sides were forced to make injury subsitutions before the break with Fillippo Ranochiia replacing Tyronne Ebuehi for the hosts and Allessandro Florenzi being replaced by Alejandro Jimenez.

Empoli had some decent opportunities to score in the second half with Matteo Cancellieri's effort parried and Francesco Caputo's followup effort blocked.

But Milan made it three late on when substitute Chaka Traore was put through on goal by Christian Pulisic and sidefooted it past the keeper.

The result sees The Rossoneri stay in third place and reduce their deficit to Serie A leaders Inter Milan to nine points while Empoli remain in the relegation zone.

Milan win 3-0 with goals from Loftus-Cheek, a Giroud penalty and 19-year-old Traore late on.

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There will be three added minutes.

Chaka Traore is put through on goal and sidefoots it past the keeper.

COMFORTABLE:

Empoli look to have run out of steam.

Gabbia and Traore on for Milan.

BOOKING:

Marin is booked for barging into Hernandez.

Cambiaghi's effort hits the side netting after good buildup play.

Maldini and Marin are on for Empoli.

CLOSE!

Leao's bicycle kick is charged down.

Maignan parires Cancellieri's shot and the rebound from Caputo is sent wide by a Hernandez block.

Loftus-Cheek and Calabria make way for Musah and Bartesaghi.

EMPOLI CORNER:

THe corner is swung in, its cleared and a shot is blocked by. There is a handball shout but a quick VAR check confirms Hernandez's arms were down.

Cambiaghi, who has worked hard, wins a corner. The delivery is cleared.

Cancellieri's effort is then blocked by Hernandez.

Leao's delicious cross finds Pulisic, whose header is tipped over the bar.

Cancellieri is on for Baldanzi.

Jimenez gets the game's first booking for a foul on Baldanzi.