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Empoli logo
Serie A | Gameweek 6
Sep 12, 2022 at 7.45pm UK
Stadio Carlo Castellani
Roma logo

Empoli
1 - 2
Roma

Bandinelli (43')
Parisi (27'), Ismajli (60'), Akpa-Akpro (65')
Akpa-Akpro (87')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Dybala (17'), Abraham (71')
Celik (89')

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

Sports Mole previews Monday's Serie A clash between Empoli and Roma, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Following successive defeats away from home, Roma continue their road trip with a visit to Tuscany on Monday night, as they face Empoli at Stadio Carlo Castellani.

Having lost heavily to Udinese last weekend, the Giallorossi were then beaten in Bulgaria as they kicked off their Europa League campaign. Meanwhile, their struggling hosts have yet to win in Serie A this term.


Match preview

Roma boss Jose Mourinho on September 8, 2022© Reuters

After an impressive start to the new season, Roma sat tied at the top of the Serie A standings before last Sunday's encounter with Udinese, and had gone unbeaten through their first four league fixtures.

However, Jose Mourinho's men came spectacularly unstuck at the Dacia Arena, as they found themselves repeatedly stung on the counter and were sent packing with a 4-0 defeat.

Before that capitulation in Udine, they had conceded just a solitary goal this term, but a new-look lineup went on to let in two more on Thursday night, as the Europa Conference League winners slumped to a loss at Ludogorets in their first match in Europa League Group C.

With summer signings Andrea Belotti and Mile Svilar both being handed their first starts by Mourinho, the Giallorossi went behind with less than 20 minutes to play, before substitute Eldor Shomurodov equalised in the dying minutes. However, conceding late on in Razgrad then handed them their second away defeat in a matter of days.

Having spurned their chance of instant redemption, Roma return to the Italian peninsula - but not yet back to its capital - and they journey to the Tuscan town of Empoli, where they have lost only two of their last 12 matches.

Also unbeaten in their 12 most recent encounters with Monday's opponents - winning each of the last five - the Giallorossi are favourites to prevail once again, but cannot be complacent on current form.

Venezia coach Paolo Zanetti on September 22, 2021© Reuters

Such has been Roma's recent dominance in this match-up, Empoli have not even scored in four of the teams' last six Serie A meetings - and finding the net has also been an issue for the Azzurri through the opening weeks of the 2022-23 campaign.

A tally of just four Serie A strikes so far has seen Paolo Zanetti's side draw four games on the bounce, following fixtures against Fiorentina, Lecce, Verona and Salernitana which ended all-square.

The latter was something of a salvage job, as Empoli relinquished a lead before pulling level through Dutch striker Sam Lammers in the 81st minute; despite scoring more than once for the first time this term, they were still only able to add one point to their total.

Sitting in the bottom six, with four points in all and having already exited the Coppa Italia, Zanetti's reign has not begun in the ideal manner, and he must find a first win before too long.

Stretching back to last season, when they were led by veteran coach Aurelio Andreazzoli, no team has drawn more Serie A home matches than Empoli in 2022 - and in the process, they have won only once.

Empoli Serie A form:
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • D
  • D

Empoli form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • D
  • D

Roma Serie A form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L

Roma form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • L


Team News

Tammy Abraham in action for Roma on August 27, 2022© Reuters

Set to continue their relentless schedule on Thursday, at home to HJK Helsinki, Roma will freshen up their starting XI against Empoli: Tammy Abraham (shoulder) and Rick Karsdorp (knee) did not make the trip to Razgrad due to injury, but both could feature at the Castellani.

Marash Kumbulla, Stephan El Shaarawy and Georginio Wijnaldum all remain sidelined, but Nicolo Zaniolo is now in contention for a place on the bench following his latest absence. As Nicola Zalewski is suffering from muscular fatigue, Leonardo Spinazzola should return on the left flank.

Rui Patricio will be back in goal after Mile Svilar made his debut in the loss to Ludogorets, but Paulo Dybala should start once again. The Argentina striker has been involved in the most shots in Serie A this season: 33 (17 of his own and 16 created for teammates).

Though set for only a bit-part role on Monday, Andrea Belotti has had a hand in six goals in his last four games against Empoli. Indeed, his last goals for Torino were a hat-trick against the Azzurri back in May, when he featured as a substitute.

Meanwhile, the hosts, are still without Nicolo Cambiaghi, Lorenzo Tonelli and Tommaso Baldanzi because of injury, and ex-Roma striker Mattia Destro may also miss out against his former club.

In his absence, Sam Lammers and Martin Satriano should start up front, with Marko Pjaca and Nedim Bajrami competing for a place in behind.

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Stojanovic, Ismajli, Luperto, Parisi; Henderson, Marin, Bandinelli; Bajrami; Satriano, Lammers

Roma possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Celik, Camara, Matic, Spinazzola; Dybala, Pellegrini; Abraham


SM words green background

We say: Empoli 1-2 Roma

Given Empoli's dire run at the Castellani, the timing of Roma's visit could not be better for the capital club - in theory, at least. They may not be at full tilt due to continental commitments, but the Giallorossi now possess enough firepower on the bench to finish the job if the game remains close later on.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Away Win:data


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Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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How you voted: Empoli vs Roma

Empoli
13.5%
Draw
14.5%
Roma
71.9%
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Paulo Dybala in action for Juventus on October 30, 2021
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Tables header RHS
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1Atalanta BCAtalanta15111338172134
2Napoli15102321101132
3Inter Milan1494134151931
4Fiorentina1494128101831
5Lazio15101430171331
6Juventus1569024101427
7AC Milan146442416822
8Bologna145722018222
9Udinese156271822-420
10Empoli154741415-119
11Roma154471821-316
12Torino154471620-416
13Parma153662125-415
14Genoa153661324-1115
15CagliariCagliari153571525-1014
16Lecce15348826-1813
17Como152671628-1212
18Hellas VeronaHellas Verona1540111837-1912
19Monza151771319-610
20VeneziaVenezia1523101327-149


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