Empoli, fresh off their impressive victory in Florence last week, are eager to distance themselves from the relegation zone as they welcome Atalanta BC to Stadio Carlo Castellani on Monday.
Match Preview:
After defeating local rivals Fiorentina in their previous Monday night fixture, the Azzurri are now targeting another upset against La Dea.
Empoli headed to Stadio Franchi to face Fiorentina in the Derby dell’Arno last week with slim chances of success, considering their opponents’ strong form this season.
However, veteran striker Francesco Caputo opened the scoring in the 21st minute, and Emmanuel Gyasi sealed the win with their second goal, securing three points for Empoli.
Under the guidance of coach Aurelio Andreazzoli, Empoli has collected seven points from five matches since his return to the club.
This success has lifted them out of the drop zone and offers hope that their scoring troubles may be coming to an end.
At home, Empoli has struggled to find the back of the net, failing to score in four out of five fixtures this season.
Their tally of only one goal is the lowest among all teams in Europe’s top five leagues.
Their record against Atalanta at Stadio Castellani is also unfavorable, with just one win in their last seven meetings and five losses.
Securing back-to-back wins will require another significant upset.
Atalanta, under manager Gian Piero Gasperini, has been dominant against Empoli in recent years, winning five out of their eight Serie A encounters since 2016 and conceding an average of only 0.68 goals per game.
However, Atalanta has struggled on the road this season, suffering three away defeats to Frosinone, Fiorentina, and Lazio.
To secure a return to the top four in Italy after a couple of years, they cannot afford many more slip-ups.
In their most recent match, Atalanta drew 2-2 against Sturm Graz in the Europa League despite Luis Muriel’s first-half brace.
Domestically, they defeated Genoa 2-0, moving up to sixth place in Serie A and showcasing an impressive defensive record.
For the first time in club history, Atalanta has kept a clean sheet in six out of their first nine league games, making them the team with the most shut-outs across Europe’s top five leagues.
Empoli Serie A form: L L W L D W
Atalanta BC Serie A form: L W W D L W
Atalanta BC form (all competitions): W D W L W D
Team News:
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini will have most of his key players available for the match, except for summer signing El Bilal Toure and defender Jose Luis Palomino, who are both sidelined due to injury.
Luis Muriel’s impressive performance in the previous match may earn him a starting spot over Gianluca Scamacca up front.
Milan loanee Charles De Ketelaere could also be promoted from the bench.
Ademola Lookman, who scored against Empoli a year ago, is expected to feature, having found the net in three of his last five Serie A starts.
Emmanuel Gyasi, who scored against Fiorentina, will aim to continue his goal-scoring form for Empoli.
He has scored in each of his last two league appearances against Atalanta, but may start as a substitute.
Coach Aurelio Andreazzoli is unlikely to make many changes to the XI that started in their previous match, with Francesco Caputo leading the line.
Possible starting lineups
Empoli
Berisha;
Ebuehi, Walukiewicz, Luperto, Cacace;
Marin, Grassi, Maleh;
Baldanzi, Cambiaghi;
Caputo
Atalanta
Musso; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac;
Holm, De Roon, Koopmeiners, Ruggeri;
De Ketelaere, Lookman;
Scamacca
Prediction:
With their recent run of form and improved defensive capabilities, Atalanta is favored to secure three points against Empoli.
Their attacking prowess should overcome Empoli’s limitations up front.
- Our prediction: Empoli 1-2 Atalanta BC