There are many big derbies in Italian football, including the Derby della Madonnina, Derby della Capitale, Derby d'Italia, and Derby della Lanterna. However, one derby that often goes under the radar is the Derby Arno.
This is the fixture between Fiorentina and Empoli. The Arno is a river in the Tuscany region of Italy, where you will find both Florence, the home of Fiorentina, and Empoli. The river flows through both cities and that is where the name of the derby originates.
Interestingly, Fiorentina have been in existence since 1926 while Empoli have already celebrated their 100th anniversary but the first competitive match between them was not until 1986. At the time of writing, the teams have met a total of just 31 times ahead of their fixture in Serie A on the 19th of February 2023.
The first ever meeting between the teams came in in the quarter final of the Coppa Italia in May 1986. Empoli were in Serie B and in the first leg of the tie, it was Empoli who came out on top, winning 3-2 at home.
The second leg was hugely entertaining in Florence and despite Empoli taking a 2-1 lead in the game, it was Fiorentina who went on to win and progress to the semi-final.
Empoli won promotion to Serie A in the same season and the following campaign, in the 1986/87 season, saw the first Derby Arno in Serie A. Empoli were forced to play their opening fixtures in Florence due to ongoing work at their own stadium but they were back at their own stadium to host Fiorentina for the first time in Serie A history.
Empoli won the match 1-0 to claim their first win over Fiorentina in Serie A. The reverse fixture in Florence ended 1-1, meaning Empoli had the better of Fiorentina in their first season together in the Italian top-flight.
The teams never met in Serie B, despite the fact Fiorentina were relegated and played in the second tier during the 1993/94 season. During that season, Empoli were playing in Serie C1 and were struggling near the foot of the table.
Empoli returned to Serie A for the 1997/98 campaign and beat Fiorentina in Florence before sharing the spoils in the return fixture at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.
It was not until the 1998/99 season that Fiorentina claimed their first win over Empoli in Serie A as they beat Empoli 2-0 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Fiorentina followed that with a 3-0 win in the reverse meeting to record their first double over Empoli in Italy’s top division.
With Empoli moving regularly between divisions, the Derby Arno has been played sporadically in Serie A. Of the last 13 fixtures between the teams, 11 have taken place in Serie A, with Fiorentina winning 4 times and Empoli winning 4 times.
There have been two meetings in the Coppa Italia in recent times, with Fiorentina winning both occasions in 2010 and 2011. Interestingly, the last 4 Derby Arno games in Serie A have seen no goals scored at half time and under 2.5 goals have been scored in 5 of the last 6 matches between Fiorentina and Empoli in Serie A.