Empoli vs Fiorentina Prediction and Preview – 10/04/16
Serie A preview – Empoli vs Fiorentina prediction.
Empoli centre-back Andrea Costa has been suffering from a fever this week and Lorenzo Ariaudo is on standby. Right-back Vincent Laurini is expected to return to the back four after missing the trip to Juventus last weekend with a thigh problem. Goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski and midfielder Riccardo Saponara have been nursing knocks but are expecting to be passed fit for Sunday.
Striker Nikola Kalinic is expected to return for Fiorentina to replace Khouma Babacar who suffered a thigh injury against Sampdoria last Sunday. Midfielder Milan Badelj is struggling with a muscle strain that has stopped him training this week and could remain home with Matias Fernandez who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Possible Line-ups
Empoli 4-3-3 formation: Skorupski; Laurini, Tonelli, Costa, Rui; Buchel, Paredes, Zielinski; Pucciarelli, Saponara, Maccarone
Fiorentina 4-2-3-1 formation: Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Rodriguez, Astori, Alonso;Vecino, Valero; Bernardeschi, Ilicic, Tello; Kalinic
Statistics
- Empoli have won 0 drawn 4 and lost 6 of their last 10 matches
- Fiorentina have won 2 drawn 6 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Empoli have scored an average of 0.7 goals and conceded an average of 1.7 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Fiorentina have scored an average of 1.1 goals and conceded an average of 1.5 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Empoli’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Fiorentina’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Empoli were narrowly defeated 1-0 by league leaders Juventus in Turin last Saturday, their fifth defeat in seven games. You have to go back 13 games to January since Empoli last registered a victory and it was 13 December when Marco Giampaolo’s men last won a home game. There a few positives to make for Empoli save to say they have scored at least one goal in five of the last six at home.
Fiorentina have allowed Roma to gain a stranglehold on the third Champions League place after a run of five games without a win. Paulo Sousa’s side has only suffered one defeat (4-1 at Roma) in the last 11 league games but have played too many draws and the goals aren’t coming so regularly with four scored in the last five.
Fiorentina have won on their last three trips to neighbouring Empoli and are taken to maintain their dominance.
Tips
Fiorentina to win at 6/4 with William Hill
Under 2.5 goals at 17/20 with Marathonbet
Fiorentina to win 1-0 at 15/2 with BetVictor
Click here to see more Serie A previews, predictions and tips