Preview: Empoli vs. Roma - prediction, team news, lineups

Having lost heavily to Udinese last weekend, the Giallorossi were then beaten in Bulgaria as they kicked off their Europa League campaign. Meanwhile, their struggling hosts have yet to win in Serie A this term.

Match preview

After an impressive start to the new season, Roma sat tied at the top of the Serie A standings before last Sunday's encounter with Udinese, and had gone unbeaten through their first four league fixtures.

However, Jose Mourinho's men came spectacularly unstuck at the Dacia Arena, as they found themselves repeatedly stung on the counter and were sent packing with a 4-0 defeat.

Before that capitulation in Udine, they had conceded just a solitary goal this term, but a new-look lineup went on to let in two more on Thursday night, as the Europa Conference League winners slumped to a loss at Ludogorets in their first match in Europa League Group C.

With summer signings Andrea Belotti and Mile Svilar both being handed their first starts by Mourinho, the Giallorossi went behind with less than 20 minutes to play, before substitute Eldor Shomurodov equalised in the dying minutes. However, conceding late on in Razgrad then handed them their second away defeat in a matter of days.

Having spurned their chance of instant redemption, Roma return to the Italian peninsula - but not yet back to its capital - and they journey to the Tuscan town of Empoli, where they have lost only two of their last 12 matches.

Also unbeaten in their 12 most recent encounters with Monday's opponents - winning each of the last five - the Giallorossi are favourites to prevail once again, but cannot be complacent on current form.

Such has been Roma's recent dominance in this match-up, Empoli have not even scored in four of the teams' last six Serie A meetings - and finding the net has also been an issue for the Azzurri through the opening weeks of the 2022-23 campaign.

A tally of just four Serie A strikes so far has seen Paolo Zanetti's side draw four games on the bounce, following fixtures against Fiorentina, Lecce, Verona and Salernitana which ended all-square.

The latter was something of a salvage job, as Empoli relinquished a lead before pulling level through Dutch striker Sam Lammers in the 81st-minute; despite scoring more than once for the first time this term, they were still only able to add one point to their total.

Sitting in the bottom six, with four points in all and having already exited the Coppa Italia, Zanetti's reign has not begun in the ideal manner, and he must find a first win before too long.

Stretching back to last season, when they were led by veteran coach Aurelio Andreazzoli, no team has drawn more Serie A home matches than Empoli in 2022 - and in the process, they have won only once.

Empoli Serie A form:

Empoli form (all competitions):

Roma Serie A form:

Roma form (all competitions):

Team News

Set to continue their relentless schedule on Thursday, at home to HJK Helsinki, Roma will freshen up their starting XI against Empoli: Tammy Abraham (shoulder) and Rick Karsdorp (knee) did not make the trip to Razgrad due to injury, but both could feature at the Castellani.

Marash Kumbulla, Stephan El Shaarawy and Georginio Wijnaldum all remain sidelined, but Nicolo Zaniolo is now in contention for a place on the bench following his latest absence. As Nicola Zalewski is suffering from muscular fatigue, Leonardo Spinazzola should return on the left flank.

Rui Patricio will be back in goal after Mile Svilar made his debut in the loss to Ludogorets, but Paulo Dybala should start once again. The Argentina striker has been involved in the most shots in Serie A this season: 33 (17 of his own and 16 created for teammates).

Though set for only a bit-part role on Monday, Andrea Belotti has had a hand in six goals in his last four games against Empoli. Indeed, his last goals for Torino were a hat-trick against the Azzurri back in May, when he featured as a substitute.

Meanwhile, the hosts, are still without Nicolo Cambiaghi, Lorenzo Tonelli and Tommaso Baldanzi because of injury, and ex-Roma striker Mattia Destro may also miss out against his former club.

In his absence, Sam Lammers and Martin Satriano should start up front, with Marko Pjaca and Nedim Bajrami competing for a place behind the forward pairing.

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Stojanovic, Ismajli, Luperto, Parisi; Haas, Marin, Bandinelli; Bajrami; Satriano, Lammers

Roma possible starting lineup:

Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Karsdorp, Camara, Matic, Spinazzola; Dybala, Pellegrini; Abraham

We say: Empoli 1-2 Roma

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