Empoli host Fiorentina on Saturday afternoon in the Derby dell’Arno. The two Florence rivals head into the fixture with both sides in midtable.
Fiorentina go into the match following a brilliant 4-3 win over AC Milan. Coach Vincenzo Italiano’s Viola are seventh in the division with 21 points from 39 on offer. Four points separate Fiorentina from Atalanta and the top four.
Empoli are 12th ahead of the weekend’s games in Italy. Empoli have taken 17 points from 39 this season and nine points separate them from the top four.
Both sides are in decent form ahead of matchday 14. Fiorentina took nine points from the last 18 points available. They outscored their last six opponents 10-6.
Empoli took seven points from the last 18 available. They were outscored 13-10 by their last six opponents. Empoli’s home form has been poor this season with just four points taken from 21 available. The Blues have conceded 18 goals at home.
Fiorentina are on a three-match losing streak away from home. They have taken nine points from 21 available on the road, however. La Viola have been outscored 8-6 on the road.
Italiano has two players that could miss the match on Saturday. Defender Matija Nastasic and midfielder Erick Pulgar are both doubts to play the match on this weekend.
Empoli coach Aurelio Andreazzoli has no new injury issues going into the match this weekend. The ex-Roma coach will hope the side can end their two-match winless streak.
Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic has 10 goals in 13 matches this season. The next closest goalscorers are Nico Gonzalez and Riccardo Saponara, who have two goals apiece. Fiorentina have tallied 20 goals and the defence has struggled keep goals out. They have allowed 17 goals to opponents.
Empoli have scored 19 goals and allowed 25 goals to opponents. Andrea Pinamonti leads Empoli in goals scored this season with four. Federico Di Francesco has added three goals.
These teams have not played since 2018-19. The teams traded wins over the course of their last four meetings with Empoli winning twice and Fiorentina tallying two goals.
Fiorentina are in better form going into the Derby dell’Arno despite their recent losing streak away from home. La Viola should claim a second straight win in Serie A by defeated Empoli this weekend.
It should be a close match with under 2.5 goals scored. Fiorentina’s defence hasn’t been great, but they should step up with a win to nil on the road against the derby rival.