Preview: Empoli vs. Monza - prediction, team news, lineups

After switching managers in midweek, Serie A strugglers Empoli hope for an immediate impact in Sunday's game against Monza at Stadio Carlo Castellani.

Aurelio Andreazzoli was dismissed following last week's loss at Hellas Verona, which left the Azzurri stranded five points adrift of safety.

Match preview

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Having fired veteran coach Andreazzoli, following three wins from 16 matches during his fourth spell at the club, Empoli turned to expert fire-fighter Davide Nicola earlier this week, hoping he can pull off another great escape from the Serie A trapdoor.

Nicola returns to the Italian top flight after his sacking by Salernitana last February, and having saved the Salerno side, Crotone and Torino from relegation in previous years, his track record certainly stands up to scrutiny.

Furthermore, the 50-year-old is unbeaten in each of his last four Serie A debuts as a head coach, recording wins with Udinese and Genoa, plus draws with Torino and Salernitana.

That will be music to the ears of fans at Stadio Castellani, who have seen their team score the second-fewest home goals (five) across Europe's top five leagues this season - only Ligue 1 outfit Clermont (four) have fared worse in that regard. Empoli have picked up just 13 points overall - losing 13 times - and most recently fell victim to Verona, whose 2-1 win last week took them four points clear of the Tuscan club in the battle for Serie A survival.

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Monza, meanwhile, are enjoying much better fortunes this term, but their record in Empoli is far from impressive: they have lost five of six visits there in league competition, failing to score on four occasions.

Nonetheless, a 2-0 victory in August's reverse fixture means that the Biancorossi can now do the double over their troubled hosts this weekend.

They will have to recover from a 5-1 crushing by Inter Milan last time out, though, as Raffaele Palladino saw his team taken apart by the league leaders on home turf.

Having conceded more goals during the first 15 minutes than any other club across Europe's top five leagues (nine) - including two against Inter - it is clear that sluggish starts are costing them dear this season.

Although such a setback was a blow to morale, Monza stayed 11th in the table, equally close to the top six as Serie A's drop zone. Now, they seek back-to-back away wins for just the third time since earning promotion in 2022.

Team News

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New Empoli boss Davide Nicola has inherited an attacking department that has been short of goals for several months and is currently understaffed too: Tommaso Baldanzi (thigh), Francesco Caputo (ankle) and Mattia Destro (muscular) are all doubtful due to injury, while Matteo Cancellieri must serve a suspension.

As a result, Monza-born forward Nicolo Cambiaghi should keep his place in the final third, despite having attempted the most shots without scoring (51) in Serie A this season.

Meanwhile, in midfield, new signing Szymon Zurkowski will hope to force his way into the Azzurri's starting XI, after scoring on his second debut for the club last week.

Monza have fewer men missing, but Alessandro Sorrentino continues to deputise in goal as first-choice stopper Michele Di Gregorio (knee) is still unavailable; Jose Machin is representing Equatorial Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Samuele Birindelli serves a one-match ban.

If, as expected, Roberto Gagliardini returns to his customary place in midfield, Raffaele Palladino may promote Spanish centre-back Pablo Mari from the bench.

Empoli possible starting lineup: Caprile; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz, Luperto, Cacace; Zurkowski, Grassi, Maleh; Gyasi, Shpendi, Cambiaghi

Monza possible starting lineup: Sorrentino; D'Ambrosio, Mari, Caldirola; Pereira, Gagliardini, Pessina, Ciurria; Colpani, V. Carboni; Mota

We say: Empoli 1-1 Monza

Mid-table Monza possess the seventh-best away record in Serie A, so a victory for the visitors cannot be discounted. However, their hosts' new boss could make a quick impact and lead his team to at least one point.

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