MX23RW : Friday, February 24 20:08:49| >> :120:34671:34671:
[monks data]
Feb 11, 2023 at 2pm UK at Stadio Carlo Castellani
Empoli
2 - 2
Spezia
Cambiaghi (71'), Vignato (90+4')
Vicario (24')
Parisi (21')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Verde (25' pen., 31')
Nikolaou (25'), Verde (33'), Esposito (39'), Ekdal (63')
Esposito (49')

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Serie A clash between Empoli and Spezia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Despite edging closer to safety of late, a setback last week sees Empoli keen to take maximum points from Serie A strugglers Spezia when the teams meet on Saturday.

Ahead of their clash at Stadio Carlo Castellani, the visitors are unbeaten in all three previous top-flight games against their hosts, following a 1-0 win in La Spezia on the opening day.


Match preview

Filippo Bandinelli celebrates scoring for Empoli on September 12, 2022© Reuters

Empoli travelled to the capital last week, still undefeated since the winter break, and ahead of what transpired to be a 2-0 loss to Roma they were one of Italy's most in-form sides.

Three wins and as many draws from their previous six games had helped the Azzurri into the safety of mid-table, and in spite of their reverse in Rome they still occupy 12th spot - level on points with 11th-placed Monza and fallen giants Juventus.

Recent results have eased relegation fears for the months ahead, with the distance between the Tuscan side and the bottom three now standing at some 12 points.

Paolo Zanetti's men are also unbeaten in their last four Serie A home matches - winning three times in the process - so will now expect to bounce back from an increasingly rare loss and end their success-free streak against Spezia.

In three Serie A encounters between the clubs, Empoli are not only yet to win, but none of their players have even scored at the right end: after a 1-1 draw featuring two own goals in December 2021, Saturday's visitors have kept clean sheets in both subsequent meetings.

Spezia coach Luca Gotti on November 5, 2022© Reuters

One of just four league victories so far this season, Spezia ran out 1-0 winners against Empoli in August's reverse fixture, but such a bright start to the season has since given way to the grim reality of a survival struggle.

Following a 3-0 home defeat to league leaders Napoli last time out, Luca Gotti's side have failed to score in any of their last three top-flight matches - the club's worst streak since reaching Serie A for the first time back in 2020.

Indeed, the last time the Ligurians went without netting for four straight league games was as long ago as 2017, down in Serie B, and they will be keen to avoid replicating that run by ending their drought this weekend.

An over-reliance on top scorer M'Bala Nzola - who is not expected to return from a calf injury until later this month - lies at the heart of their ills up front, and with 17th-placed Verona improving, Spezia sit outside the drop zone by an ever more slender margin - now just four points.

Only Sampdoria have fired blanks in more Serie A matches this term, and after suffering eight away defeats already, perhaps the best they can hope for on Saturday is a first away draw for 13 games - their last came in April 2022, at the Castellani.

Empoli Serie A form:

Spezia Serie A form:


Spezia form (all competitions):



Team News

Empoli coach Paolo Zanetti reacts on November 8, 2022© Reuters

Despite failing to score in his last four games, Francesco Caputo should continue to start up front for Empoli, holding off the claims of recent loan signing Roberto Piccoli. If Caputo finds the net on Saturday, he would equal Antonio Di Natale as the club's fifth-top scorer in Serie A on 18 goals.

Paolo Zanetti's plans up front will not include injured striker Mattia Destro, who is joined on the sidelines by Ardian Ismajli and Alberto Grassi.

Behind a likely forward duo also featuring Martin Satriano, the hosts should turn to young star Tommaso Baldanzi, while midfield pair Liam Henderson and Marko Pjaca are among those pushing for promotion to the first XI after appearing as substitutes last week.

Spezia, meanwhile, take the trip to Tuscany burdened by a lengthy absence list: though captain Emmanuel Gyasi returns from suspension, both Ethan Ampadu and Mattia Caldara must now serve bans for accumulated bookings, so Luca Gotti has to reshuffle his back three.

Nine-goal striker M'Bala Nzola is ruled out by injury, and in their three league matches without him this term, Spezia have lost each time without scoring - the Angola international has the highest percentage of any team's goals in Serie A so far (53%).

January signing Szymon Zurkowski - a former Empoli loanee - is also unavailable, and with Viktor Kovalenko and Albin Ekdal short of fitness too, the visitors could be a little light in midfield.

Even Gotti has undergone a hip operation and cannot tread the touchline, but he can at least turn to new arrivals Eldor Shomurodov, Salvatore Esposito and Przemyslaw Wisniewski to fill some gaps on his teamsheet.

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Ebuehi, De Winter, Luperto, Parisi; Bandinelli, Marin, Akpa-Akpro; Baldanzi; Satriano, Caputo

Spezia possible starting lineup:
Dragowski; Amian, Wisniewski, Nikolaou; Holm, Esposito, Bourabia, Agudelo, Reca; Gyasi, Shomurodov


SM words green background

We say: Empoli 2-1 Spezia

Empoli and Spezia have faced the most shots per game on average in Serie A this season (both over 16), so it could be an open affair at the Castellani. The hosts, though, are in far better form, and home advantage makes them likely winners against absence-hit opponents.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data

ID:506197:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect14524:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Empoli vs Spezia

Empoli
85.7%
Draw
7.1%
Spezia
7.1%
28
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Poland's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after the match on September 25, 2022
Read Next:
Lewandowski headlines Poland squad for 2022 World Cup
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
7pm
Ramos-Vinolas
Zapata Miralles
7.30pm
Dellien
Norrie
9pm
Alcaraz
Lajovic
10.30pm
Jarry
Baez
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli23202156154162
2Inter Milan23152644271747
3Roma23135530191144
4AC Milan2313553930944
5Lazio23126539192042
6Atalanta BCAtalanta23125642261641
7Juventus23145436171932
8Bologna239593033-332
9Torino238782425-131
10Udinese237973128330
11Monza2385102831-329
12Empoli2361072229-728
13Lecce236982426-227
14Fiorentina2367102430-625
15SassuoloSassuolo2366112635-924
16Salernitana2356122544-1921
17SpeziaSpezia2347121939-2019
18Hellas VeronaHellas Verona2345142034-1417
19Sampdoria2325161138-2711
20Cremonese2309141742-259

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Match previews - Daily
Transfer Talk Daily
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!