Sunday’s Serie A action gets underway at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona when Napoli and Empoli square off in a lopsided contest.
After a shaky start to the season, Napoli, who face Empoli this weekend, have managed to stabilise and catch up with the leading Serie A teams. At the time of writing, they occupy the fourth position in the table with 21 points accumulated, seven points behind league leaders Inter Milan.
Last week, Napoli secured a routine 2-0 victory in Salerno but failed to build momentum by drawing 1-1 to Union Berlin in the Champions League in midweek. Facing another relegation-threatened underachiever comes in handy as Napoli bid to mount yet another title charge with another convincing victory in the league.
The Partenopei pulled off an impressive second-half comeback to hold AC Milan to a 2-2 draw in their last home league outing. But anything less than three points against Empoli will be regarded as a disappointment.
Meanwhile, after finishing in mid-table the last two seasons, the 2023/24 campaign has been a nightmare for Empoli so far. They have managed just seven points this term and are two points behind Cagliari, who are just above the drop zone in 17th.
Aurelio Andreazzoli’s side seemed on the verge of turning their fortunes around for good after an excellent 2-0 victory at Fiorentina after the October international break. However, they have quickly descended into turmoil with back-to-back losses to Atalanta and Frosinone.
They looked very much second-best in the defeat to Frosinone last weekend. They were also previously knocked out of the Coppa Italia by second-tier side Cittadella and are desperate for points heading into this encounter.
Team News & Tactics
Napoli
💪 Work, work, work
💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/xsyQURDrJL
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) November 10, 2023
With managerial uncertainty, lacklustre displays on the pitch, and bizarre TikTok scandals rearing their ugly heads, life at Napoli has been far from perfect for new boss Rudi Garcia. But the reigning Serie A champions appear to be turning a corner if recent results are anything to go by.
Once again, Napoli should only be working with a solitary injury concern for Wednesday’s game, although it is a significant one, as Capocannoniere winner Victor Osimhen is on the road to recovery from a hamstring issue and will not return just yet. In his place, Giacomo Raspadori will aim to make the net bulge for the third Serie A game running as he joins Matteo Politano and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the final third.
Experienced centre-back Amir Rrahmani will be unavailable for Rudi Garcia’s side, having been called up by the Kosovo national team for a Euro 2024 qualifier against Israel that was rescheduled for this weekend. Thankfully, Brazilian defender Natan is back from a one-game domestic suspension and is in line to partner Leo Ostigard at the back.
In midfield, Elif Elmas could come in as the left-sided midfielder in place of Piotr Zielinski, with Stanislav Lobotka manning the anchor role, while Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa remains a powerful presence in the engine room.
There should be no alterations in the full-back and goalkeeper departments, though, with Alex Meret set to start in goal for the hosts, flanked by captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Mathias Olivera.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Natan, Ostigard, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Elmas; Politano, Raspadori, Kvaratskhelia
Empoli
Empoli will welcome midfielder Youssef Maleh back from a ban, which may lead to a change of personnel in the midfield department, with young Jacopo Fazzini making his way.
Head coach Aurelio Andreazzoli may also look to bring Tommaso Baldanzi into the starting XI from the get-go so that the exciting youngster can create a chance or two upfront. Whatever formation Andrea Andreazzoli puts out on the pitch in Naples, a strong defensive display is Empoli’s only hope this weekend.
Albanian shot-stopper Etrit Berisha will likely be called upon and will be a busy man in goal on Sunday for the visitors. Andreazzoli could opt for a back four of Bartosz Bereszynski, Ardian Ismajli, Sebastiano Luperto, and Cacace. Razvan Marin is expected to start in the midfield three, with Maleh and Alberto Grassi on either side of the Romanian playmaker.
Sebastian Caputo has scored two of Empoli’s meagre three goals in their last five Serie A matches. Given that both of his strikes came on the road, it is only natural to consider him Empoli’s potential saviour.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Berisha; Bereszynski, Ismajli, Luperto, Cacace; Marin, Grassi, Maleh; Baldanzi, Cancellieri; Caputo
Key Stats
- None of the last nine Serie A meetings between these clubs have ended in a draw, with six wins for Sunday’s hosts and three for their Tuscan outfit.
- Napoli have scored at least two goals in 11 of their last 13 matches against Empoli in all competitions.
- The visitors are without a clean sheet in their last three games in this fixture.
- The Naples-based outfit are the second-highest-scoring side in the Italian top-flight this season, with a goal tally of 24.
- Empoli are the lowest-scoring side in Serie A so far this season, with a mere four goals.
Player to Watch
Giacomo Raspadori
Giacomo Raspadori, one of Italy’s most talented native attackers, mostly watched from the sidelines last season as his teammates rampaged to a historic title. Luciano Spalletti rarely tinkered or meddled with his winning Napoli juggernaut as they rolled through opponent after opponent in all competitions.
However, after a year as a supporting cast, the fleet-footed Italian forward is finally coming up with the goods at Napoli in the continued absence of Osimhen, producing four goals and two assists in 12 Serie A and Champions League outings this term, including a decisive finish from close range to beat Salernitana goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Expect him to continue his rich vein of form up against a weak Empoli defence here.
Prediction
Napoli 2-0 Empoli
Napoli may be without Victor Osimhen once again as he recovers from injury. But the hosts should have no problem claiming all three points at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday against an Empoli side who look to be in deep trouble this season.
The Partenopei have not been at the same level as last season. But a Napoli win here may still put some heat on Juventus and the two Milan sides at the top of the table. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 victory for Rudi Garcia and his charges.
