Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 October 2023, 17:13
Two sides fighting at opposite ends of the table in the early stages of the Serie A campaign meet at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Monday, when Fiorentina host Empoli in the Derby dell'Arno.

Fiorentina signed off for the international break in superb fashion, beating reigning champions Napoli convincingly at the Maradona to move into the top four.

Match preview

Vincenzo Italiano's side enter this Tuscan derby in much better shape than their neighbours, but they will hope the international break has not killed the momentum built up from that fantastic win in Naples.

A fast start will be key, as that was effective once more in beating Napoli, with Josip Brekalo giving them the lead inside the opening 10 minutes, their 12th first-half goal of the league season already - the highest tally in Europe's top-five leagues.

Finding the net has been no problem for La Viola under Italiano's stewardship, as they have now scored in 22 of their previous 24 Serie A games, with the only exceptions being away at Inter Milan and in last season's trip to Napoli.

Another win here will take them to 20 points, seeing Fiorentina create history with their best start after nine games in the three-points-per-win era.

The Fiorentina faithful will be wondering what could have been too, considering they were held to frustrating draws by Frosinone and Lecce earlier in the campaign.

Their fixture list does become more challenging in the coming weeks though, as La Viola's next three away games take them to Lazio, AC Milan and Roma, with a visit of Juventus to the Artemio Franchi thrown in between.

European fixtures will intertwine those league outings too, but their form on the continent has not been as convincing ahead of their clash with Cukaricki on Thursday.

After scraping past Rapid Vienna in Europa Conference League qualifying, Fiorentina have drawn both of their opening two group games 2-2 against Genk and Ferencvaros.

Empoli's form meanwhile, is among the worst across Europe, especially in attack, as their one solitary goal means no other side in the top-five leagues have scored fewer.

Tommaso Baldanzi's strike against Salernitana gave Aurelio Andreazzoli a win in his second game in charge of his fourth spell at the club, but that is as good as it has gotten.

Gli Azzurri are still awaiting their first away goal or point of the season, and another defeat here would be just the third time in the last 17 years that they have taken four points or fewer in their opening nine games.

After losing six of their first seven games, Empoli were able to take a point from their clash with Udinese shortly before the break.

Empoli had chances to win the game and also saw Francesco Caputo's first-half strike disallowed following a VAR review, so positives can be taken into this one.

However, trips to the Artemio Franchi have not been particularly fruitful for Empoli, as they have won just once in their last 12 visits to Florence.

Fiorentina Serie A form:

L

W

W

D

W

W

Fiorentina form (all competitions):

D

W

D

W

D

W

Empoli Serie A form:

L

L

L

W

L

D

Advert - content below:

Team News

Fiorentina will be without goalkeeper Oliver Christensen until mid-November because of a thigh injury, so Pietro Terracciano should continue between the sticks.

Niccolo Pierozzi is doubtful with an abdominal strain, while Yerry Mina (thigh) and Gaetano Castrovilli (knee) are set to miss the next few weeks.

Dodo's ACL injury means he will be out for most of the campaign, but Michael Kayode is showing signs of being the breakout star in Serie A this season, as the young right-back dealt with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia superbly in their win over Napoli.

Lucas Martinez Quarta and Nicolas Gonzalez have both had to travel back from South America after representing Argentina during the break, with the latter playing 90 minutes in both of their World Cup qualifiers.

Top scorer Gonzalez has been managing a minor injury in recent weeks, and only came on for the final 20 minutes of the win over Napoli, before scoring the third goal.

Empoli boss Andreazzoli will be without Giuseppe Pezzella with a back injury, and AC Milan loanee Daniel Maldini, who has a muscular problem.

Bartosz Bereszynski missed the last two games before the international break, but he was part of the Poland squad which drew with Moldova on Sunday, so he should travel here.

Razvan Marin was in fine form for Romania during the break too, scoring in the Tricolorii's 4-0 win over Andorra which moved them top of their section.

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:

Terracciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Martinez Quarta, Parisi; Arthur, Duncan, Bonaventura; Gonzalez, Nzola, Brekalo

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Berisha; Ebuehi, Ismajli, Luperto, Cacace; Marin, Ranocchia, Maleh, Baldanzi, Cancellieri; Caputo

We say: Fiorentina 2-0 Empoli

After beating the likes of Napoli and Atalanta already and having only lost at Inter, Fiorentina are clear favourites for this clash, and should find those record-setting three points in this Tuscan derby.

Previews by email

Top News

17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Arsenal will need to act swiftly if they intend to capitalise on the release clause in Jeremie Frimpong's Bayer Leverkusen contract, according to a report. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea could be without as many as seven players for their final Premier League fixture of the season at home against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will endeavour to end the 2023-24 campaign on a high by qualifying for European competition when they welcome Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sevilla will look to bounce back from consecutive defeats when they travel to San Mames for Sunday's La Liga clash with Athletic Bilbao. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sixth-placed Lens are set to take on 12th-placed Montpellier HSC in the final game of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday evening. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Galatasaray have the chance to seal the Turkish Super Lig title when they host arch-rivals and closest challengers Fenerbahce at Rams Park on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has confirmed that he is leaving the club at the end of the season. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Anthony Martial are all training with Manchester United ahead of the team's final match of the 2023-24 Premier League season against Brighton & Hove Albion. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Napoli have reportedly entered the race to sign Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood during this summer's transfer window. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two midtable sides will go head-to-head when Alaves welcome Getafe to Mendizorroza for Saturday's La Liga contest. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Playing their final home fixture of a stellar Serie A season, champions Inter Milan welcome Lazio to San Siro on Sunday evening. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be without first-choice goalkeeper Ederson for Sunday's Premier League title decider against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For just the third time in the last 11 years, the Premier League title race will be decided on the final day, with reigning champions Manchester City looking to retain their crown at home against West Ham United on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale has reportedly agreed a move to Newcastle United during this summer's transfer window. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk ARSENAL Gameweek 38 opponents: Everton (H) Out: None Doubtful: Jurrien Timber (knee) ASTON VILLA Gameweek 38 opponents: Palace (A) Out: Emiliano Buendia (knee), Tyrone Mings (knee), Boubacar Kamara (knee), Jacob Ramsey (toe), Morgan Rogers (hamstring), Matty Cash (calf), Youri Tielemans (groin), Nicolo Zaniolo (foot) Doubtful: None Unai Emery quotes: "Zaniolo broke his metatarsal and it is bad news. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus have sacked head coach Massimiliano Allegri just two days after Wednesday's Coppa Italia triumph. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arne Slot has revealed that he will be leaving Feyenoord to become the new manager of Liverpool. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After suffering back-to-back blows in Serie A and Europe, Roma aim to claim victory in their final home fixture of the season, as they welcome Genoa to Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Running out of time to save their Serie A status, Sassuolo face a crucial six-pointer on Sunday, when they host relegation rivals Cagliari. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With a win sufficient to secure their Serie A survival, Udinese host fellow relegation battlers Empoli in a crucial Sunday showdown. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have five first-team players out of contract at the end of next month, while a decision also needs to be made on the future of on-loan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have four first-team players out of contract at the end of June, while the club also need to make decisions on the futures of two more who are currently on loan. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has delivered his verdict on what to expect from Manchester City's final Premier League fixture of the season at home against West Ham United on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to guarantee their La Liga survival with a game to spare, Mallorca will play host to Almeria in the penultimate round of league matches on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to guarantee their La Liga survival with a game to spare, Mallorca will play host to Almeria in the penultimate round of league matches on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to continue their marvellous vein of form and finish inside the top half of the league standings, Crystal Palace will welcome Champions League-bound Aston Villa to Selhurst Park on the final day of the Premier League season. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Requiring just a point to guarantee Premier League survival, Nottingham Forest head to Turf Moor to lock horns with already-relegated Burnley on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will conclude their 2023-24 Premier League campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon, before tackling Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brest still have a chance to automatically qualify for the Champions League group stage next season when they conclude the Ligue 1 campaign against Toulouse on Sunday at Stadium de Toulouse. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Departing Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp might be able to welcome back another soon-to-be erstwhile Reds man for Sunday's Premier League finale with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield.
Sun 19 May, 12:30
ERD
PSV PSV
-
sch
Waalwijk Waalwijk