Napoli will aim to keep the fading UEFA Champions League qualification hopes alive when they face Empoli Stadio Carlo Castellani on Saturday.
The games continue to come thick and fast across Europe, with Matchday 33 of the 2023/24 Serie A season kicking off on Friday. Saturday will bring us only two games, with the action getting underway at Stadio Carlo Castellani, where Empoli will host soon-to-be-officially deposed champions Napoli.
Empoli came into the 2023/24 season after a lower mid-table finish in the 2022/23 campaign. So, they would have hoped to maintain their position if not attempt to breach the top half of the standings. However, the Blues have flirted with relegation throughout this term, although they had risen to 13th in February. But a run of one win in six games has dropped them to 17th, with Davide Nicola under pressure to turn the tide.
As for Napoli, they have been one of the worst top-flight champions in recent history, with Luciano Spalletti’s departure considerably hurting them. Their highest position came after Matchday 2, with a dreadful home record pushing them to eighth in the standings.
The run of results has cost two managers their job, with Francesco Calzona taking charge in February. But with Italy almost certain to have five UEFA Champions League berths, the champions have a chance to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition.
The reverse fixture ended in a 1-0 win for Empoli, with Viktor Kovalenko scoring a late goal to seal the three points against Napoli. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Empoli
Davide Nicola has greeted a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Napoli on Saturday, the Empoli manager will be bereft of the services of two first-team players.
Emmanuel Gyasi is the latest absentee, as he serves a suspension after picking up a milestone yellow card last week against Lecce. However, Ardian Ismajli might be fit enough to return from a thigh injury. Meanwhile, Tyronne Ebuehi remains on the sidelines due to a season-ending knee injury.
Elia Caprile should take his spot between the sticks, with Empoli lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him against Napoli. The central defensive unit should feature Bartosz Bereszynski, Sebastian Walukiewicz, and captain Sebastiano Luperto. Matteo Cancellieri and Giuseppe Pezzella should be the two wing-backs, with the former replacing Gyasi.
The duo will flank the two central midfielders while contributing on both ends of the pitch. Razvan Marin and Youssef Maleh should take their places in the middle of the park, with the former bringing the x-factor. Finally, M’Baye Niang should lead the line for Empoli, with Szymon Zurkowski and Nicolo Cambiaghi supporting him in the advanced areas.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Caprile; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz, Luperto; Cancellieri, Marin, Maleh, Pezzella; Zurkowski, Cambiaghi; Niang
Napoli
Like his counterpart in the Empoli dugout, Francesco Calzona has new roster issues hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Stadio Carlo Castellani. The Napoli manager will be without three first-team players on Saturday.
Amir Rrahmani and Mario Rui are the latest absentees, with the duo serving suspensions this weekend. In addition, Mathias Olivera is on the sidelines due to a muscle injury. So, Calzona needs to be clever with his left-back resources.
Meanwhile, Juan Jesus should be fit enough to start, pairing up with Leo Ostigard at the heart of the defence. Pasquale Mazzocchi should start as the left-back in the absence of Rui and Olivera, with captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo being an automatic pick on the right flank.
As for the midfield unit, Stanislav Lobotka will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park, with Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Piotr Zielinski supporting him in the defensive phases while providing the forward thrust. Finally, Victor Osimhen will lead the line for the away side, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Jesus, Ostigard, Mazzocchi; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Key Stats
- Empoli have won four of their last six Serie A matches against Napoli (L2). Since 2019, the Blues have not won more games versus any opponent apart from the Partenopei (level with Salernitana and Sassuolo).
- After keeping a clean sheet in their first four Serie A home games against Napoli, Empoli have conceded in the last six meetings. They have only recorded more shut-outs on home turf in the competition against five other teams (Atalanta, Bologna, Fiorentina, Torino, and Udinese).
- Empoli have lost five of their last six Serie A matches to nil. Since March, they are both the team that has failed to find the back of the net in the most games and lost more matches than any other side.
- Empoli can win successive home matches in Serie A for the first time since last May.
- Napoli have conceded at least two goals in their last three Serie A games. The last time they went on a longer streak in the top flight was in September 2015 (7).
Player to Watch
Victor Osimhen
While defence has been an issue for Napoli, poor offensive output has also contributed to the team’s problems for much of the 2023/24 season. Victor Osimhen remains their most productive player but has been a pale shadow of the player who took Serie A by storm last term.
A tally of 15 goals and four assists is good enough for most strikers. But that does not cut it for Osimhen, who might benefit from a change of scenery next season. However, while he remains on Napoli’s payroll, he is the club’s best hope of finishing in the top five. So, the Nigerian international needs to step up in the last six matches to help his team reach the Champions League.
Prediction
Empoli 1-2 Napoli
Both teams are desperate for three points heading into Saturday’s clash at Stadio Carlo Castellani. Empoli’s recent record against Napoli should give the home side the confidence to spring a surprise and complete a shock league double over the Partenopei.
However, the prospect of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League with a top-five finish will give Napoli renewed hope and optimism. That should spur on the away side to put on a battling display and clinch the three points. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Francesco Calzona and his charges.