Two teams scrapping for their Serie A survival will clash on Sunday, as Empoli host Venezia at Stadio Carlo Castellani.
Both two points adrift of safety, the Azzurri have been sinking for several months while their Venetian visitors are showing signs of revival.
Match preview
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Continuing a dismal run of results in 2025, Empoli were beaten 3-0 by Scudetto hopefuls Napoli on Monday evening, leaving them stuck inside the Serie A drop zone.
The Tuscan club's last league win dates back to early December; since then, they have collected just five points and suffered 12 defeats.
Occupying 19th spot in the standings, Roberto D'Aversa's side trail 17th-placed Lecce by two points with six games remaining, while Parma and Cagliari are also dangling just above them.
Recently beaten 3-0 by Bologna at the Castellani in the opening leg of their first-ever Coppa Italia semi-final, Empoli have particularly struggled to produce results on home turf.
As hosts, the Azzurri have earned a meagre nine points and scored just five times in Serie A so far, and another failure this week would allow Sunday's visitors to open up a three-point gap.
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Including January's 1-1 draw at Stadio Penzo, Venezia have never lost to Empoli in the Italian top flight, across a total of five previous meetings.
Recent results suggest the Lagunari can extend that streak in Tuscany, as they have lost just one of their last seven matches to edge a little closer to safety.
Last week's 1-0 defeat of rock-bottom Monza - secured by a second-half strike from substitute striker Daniel Fila, who was subsequently sent off - also ended their long wait for a win.
After halting a success-free streak featuring eight draws and six defeats, Venezia are intent on claiming their first back-to-back wins of the season.
Now tighter at the back, the Arancioneroverdi aim to beat low-scoring Empoli on Sunday, when victory will be all but essential.
Eusebio Di Francesco's side could actually have been much better off by now, but having lost the most points (26) from leading positions throughout Serie A, they are still deep in danger.
Team News
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As Empoli's never-ending injury crisis goes on, Roberto D'Aversa is again sweating on the fitness of key defender Ardian Ismajli and midfield regular Tino Anjorin, both of whom have trained separately.
Loan striker Christian Kouame recently suffered a serious knee injury, and he joins Marco Silvestri, Nicolas Haas, Pietro Pellegri, Saba Sazonov, Szymon Zurkowski and Youssef Maleh on the sidelines.
With Kouame unavailable, Sebastiano Esposito should lead the hosts' attack: his tally of eight Serie A strikes represent a third of the Azzurri's 24 league goals this season.
Meanwhile, Venezia will be missing last week's matchwinner Daniel Fila, who must serve a suspension for his late red card against Monza.
Christian Gytkjaer and Mirko Maric will therefore vie to start up front at Stadio Castellani, with either being supported by Gaetano Oristanio.
Belgian centre-back Joel Schingtienne is a doubt, while Alfred Duncan, Richie Sagrado and Michael Svoboda join first-choice goalkeeper Filip Stankovic in the treatment room. In the latter's absence, Andrei Radu has impressed between the posts.
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vasquez; Goglichidze, Marianucci, Viti; Gyasi, Grassi, Henderson, Pezzella; Fazzini; Esposito, Colombo
Venezia possible starting lineup:
Radu; Marcandalli, Idzes, Cande; Zerbin, Perez, Nicolussi Caviglia, Busio, Ellertsson; Oristanio; Gytkjaer
We say: Empoli 1-1 Venezia
One of the worst home sides in Serie A, Empoli cannot buy a win at the Castellani, and draw specialists Venezia are set to stop them on Sunday.
The visitors are enjoying their best run of the season, so they can claim at least one point against direct relegation rivals.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
