Udinese v Empoli – Preview: Old and new meet at the Friuli

Date: 29th August 2014 at 11:13pm
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Udinese meet newly-promoted Empoli at the Stadio Friuli on Sunday night as both sides get their 2014/15 Serie A campaigns underway.

The match will be Empoli’s first in the top flight since the Tuscan side finished 18th and were relegated in the 2007/8 season. In contrast, Udinese are Serie A mainstays and this will be their 19th consecutive season in Italy’s top division.

Empoli attained automatic promotion last season, finishing 14 points behind champions Palermo in Serie B, with Murizio Sarri’s side avenging their play-off final defeat to Livorno in the previous campaign.

Playing their first game on their Serie A return against Udinese may invoke bitter memories for fans of Empoli. The Azzurri were relegated by a single point in 2007/2008, and losing at home to the Zebrette with three matches to play, meant that even a last day win over Livorno was not enough to achieve safety. A 17th minute goal from Fabio Quagliarella gave Udinese a 1-0 win on that occasion, with the game at the Friuli ending in a 2-2 draw, with Lino Mazorati’s 93rd minute equaliser earning Empoli a point.

New Udinese coach Andrea Stramaccioni has seen the now custom exodus of Udinse’s top talent, with winger Roberto Pereyra departing for champions Juventus, and Maicosuel heading back to Brazil to join Atletico Mineiro. However, there have been several new arrivals at the Friuli, with Panagiotis Kone making the move from Bologna and Brazilian Guilherme arriving from Corinthians.

Empoli will be looking to striker Massimo Maccarone to bang in the goals, as the follicly challenged forward banged in 15 goals to help them achieve promotion. 

Elsewhere, Sarri’s men will rely on a combination of veterans and promising youngsters as they aim to achieve savation, though a defence with an average age of only 22 includes some promising stoppers, such as Italian under-21 international Daniele Rugani, but will have to adapt quickly if the Azzurri are to avoid an instant return to Serie B.

At the other end of the field, Empoli have opted for experience, with 35-year old Franceso Tavano expected to partner 34-year old Maccarone up front. Joining Maccarone and Tavano is Uruguayan Rodrigo Aguirre – on loan from Sunday’s opponents.

Empoli will have to hope that Udinese’s famous scouting system has unearthed another South American gem in the mould of Alexis Sanchez or Mauricio Isla.

Expected Starting XIs

Udinese – Scuffet; Hertaux, Danilo, Domizzi; Widmer, Badu, Allan, Fernandes, Silva; Kone, Di Natale

Empoli – Bassi; Laurini, Tonelli, Rugani, Rui; Signorelli, Valdifore, Croci; Verdi; Tavano, Maccarone

 

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