Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 15 September 2023, 18:58
With only one point between them in Serie A this season, Roma and Empoli meet at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday evening, both seeking a first win of the 2023-34 campaign.

While Jose Mourinho's men lost to 10-man Milan just before the international break, their Tuscan counterparts suffered a third straight defeat without scoring.

Match preview

Even the introduction of much-heralded loan signing Romelu Lukaku could not raise Roma's game last time out in Serie A, as the Belgian striker played a cameo role in the Giallorossi's disappointing home loss to Milan.

Although they played for half an hour with a one-man advantage, after Fikayo Tomori was sent off, Roma were unable to unlock their visitors until second-half stoppage time, when Leonardo Spinazzola scored the hosts' only goal of a 2-1 reverse.

In their previous two seasons under Jose Mourinho, the capital club won both of their first two Serie A matches, but as they seek to crack the top four this term following successive sixth-placed finishes, a slower start has already undermined that aim.

Mourinho may now have half an eye on next week's Europa League opener, in which they meet Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova, but raising Roma's game in domestic competition will be his immediate priority.

Having heavily relied on good home form last term, the Giallorossi cannot afford to let more points slip on Sunday, as they languish inside the bottom three of this season's Serie A standings, leaving much expectation resting on the shoulders of Lukaku, who has been brought to the Eternal City as something of a saviour.

With Paulo Dybala beset by injuries and Tammy Abraham sidelined long-term, the ex-Inter man may have been dropped in the deep end, but recent history suggests beating Empoli should be well within Roma's reach: they have not lost to the Tuscans in Serie A since February 2007, winning the teams' last seven meetings while scoring at least twice on each occasion.

Since their last league victory over Roma, Empoli have suffered 11 losses and drawn just three times. In fact, they have played more away matches versus the Giallorossi without ever winning than against any other side, never once keeping a clean sheet.

As if such a dire record was not enough to deter them before heading to Stadio Olimpico this weekend, the Azzurri are the sole Serie A side without any points or goals to their name so far this season.

Unless something changes in Rome, they will join Mantova (1964-65) and Padova (1994-95) as the only teams in the entire history of Italy's top flight to have lost their first four games without scoring.

Coach Paolo Zanetti is therefore under pressure to produce an upturn in results, having seen his men beaten by Verona, Monza and Juventus before the international break - in addition to being bundled out of the Coppa Italia by Serie B side Cittadella.

Empoli won just twice on the road last season, so taking points home from the capital will be a tough task - but it does not get any better for Zanetti and co next week, when Inter are their visitors at Stadio Castellani.

Roma Serie A form:

Empoli Serie A form:

Empoli form (all competitions):

Advert - content below:

Team News

In addition to long-term absentees Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla, Roma boss Jose Mourinho will be without his captain Lorenzo Pellegrini and potentially Gianluca Mancini and Renato Sanches on Sunday evening.

Both Pellegrini and Mancini were injured on international duty, so young Edoardo Bove could deputise for the former in midfield and Evan Ndicka may make his first start since signing in the summer should the latter miss out.

Set to make his full debut for the club, Romelu Lukaku has previously been involved in three goals in just 104 minutes played against Empoli - his best ratio against any club in Serie A. If Paulo Dybala is not risked from the start, the hosts could turn to either Stephan El Shaarawy or Andrea Belotti to support Lukaku up front.

Empoli, meanwhile, travel south with just one notable absentee, as Elia Caprile's ankle injury is expected to rule the goalkeeper out for a further month.

The visitors have failed to fire in the final third this season, with veteran striker Francesco Caputo scoring their only competitive goal in the Coppa Italia defeat to Cittadella.

Mattia Destro, Matteo Cancellieri and Emmanuel Gyasi are Paulo Zanetti's main options should he opt to shake up his front line, and Nicolo Cambiaghi - who has not found the net in any of his last six Serie A appearances - would most likely make way.

Roma possible starting lineup:

Patricio; Ndicka, Smalling, Llorente; Kristensen, Bove, Cristante, Aouar, Spinazzola; Dybala, Lukaku

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Berisha; Bereszynski, Ismajli, Luperto, Pezzella; Maleh, Marin, Fazzini; Baldanzi, Caputo, Cambiaghi

We say: Roma 2-1 Empoli

Previews by email

Top News

22 December 2024 talksport.com Southampton's new head coach Ivan Juric is one not to be messed with as his physical scrap with Torino's sporting director showed. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to pick up a third straight home win in the Primeira Liga, Vitoria de Guimaraes play host to Nacional at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques on Monday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly looking for the Red Devils to build a new scouting team in Portugal in a bid to unearth the next Cristiano Ronaldo. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is reportedly not interested in signing Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho during next summer's transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool must take advantage of Tottenham Hotspur's considerable weaknesses and will be confident of victory on Sunday according to Reds expert David Lynch. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Union Saint-Jean vs. Monaco (Sunday, 1.45pm) On Sunday, in a David vs. Goliath affair, Union Saint-Jean can pull off one of the biggest upsets in Coupe de France history when they take on Monaco in the round of 64 at Stadium de Toulouse. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gaziantep vs. Antalyaspor (Sunday, 10.30am) After their Turkish Cup victory in midweek, Gaziantep will now turn their attention to the Turkish Super Lig, with Antalyaspor visiting the Kalyon Stadyumu in Sunday's gameweek 17 encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Santa Clara vs. Braga (Sunday, 5.00pm) Still reeling from crashing out of the Taca de Portugal, Santa Clara return to action in the Primeira Liga when they play host to Braga at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta vs. Ajax (Sunday, 11.15am) Ajax will be looking to end the year on a high when they travel to Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel to take on a stuttering Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia vs. Alaves (Sunday, 1.00pm) Valencia will attempt to claim their third league when they welcome relegation rivals Alaves to Mestalla for Sunday's crucial La Liga encounter. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma vs. Parma (Sunday, 11.30am) Both struggling in the bottom half of the Serie A standings, Roma and Parma will hope for an early Christmas gift when they meet at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk VfL Bochum vs. Heidenheim (Sunday, 2.30pm) In a relegation six-pointer, VfL Bochum will hope to defeat Heidenheim when they welcome them to Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Sunday in their 15th Bundesliga game of the season. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dundee Utd vs. Celtic (Sunday, 12.00pm) Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership, will travel to Tannadice Park on Sunday afternoon to face Dundee United. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton vs. Chelsea (Sunday, 2.00pm) Chelsea have the chance to go top of the Premier League for a brief time at least when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk South American giants Palmeiras have reportedly sent an 'initial proposal' to Fulham for midfielder Andreas Pereira. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Nuno Espirito Santo will rival Arne Slot to win the Premier League's Manager of the Year award. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona want to sever ties with attacker Ansu Fati at the earliest opportunity in the January transfer window but the player is rebelling against a move, according to a report. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane has confirmed that he wants to remain at the Allianz Arena despite links with a return to the Premier League next year. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serie A powerhouses Napoli have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on a free transfer next summer. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Sorloth scored a last-gasp winner as Atletico Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to go top of the La Liga table. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka has been seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches after sustaining a suspected hamstring problem in Saturday's 5-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have written a new page of English football history thanks to their 5-1 destruction of London rivals Crystal Palace in Saturday's Premier League derby. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round 17 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig will be wrapped up with a clash between two sides from the Marmara region, as Istanbul Basaksehir welcome Kasimpasa to the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu on Monday evening. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Leicester loan star Facundo Buonanotte wants to see a Tottenham forward join him so they can rekindle their partnership. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal's rivals will hate it but they can definitely claim London is red after their 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus continued his resurgence with two goals as the Gunners demolished Crystal Palace 5-1 in the Premier League at Selhurst Park. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal fans' worst fears have been realised with Bukayo Saka substituted early with a suspected hamstring injury. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have suffered a worrying injury blow over Bukayo Saka, who appeared to pick up a hamstring problem in Saturday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona and Arsenal are reportedly both interested in signing Sevilla midfielder Lucien Agoume, with the France Under-21s international potentially leaving Estadio Ramon next summer.