Empoli welcome Napoli to the Stadio Carlo Castellani on Thursday evening in a match which means very little to the home side, but may prove vital to the Partenopei as they chase both capital clubs in the race for the final Champions League positions.
The Tuscan side have been this year’s surprise package under veteran coach Maurizio Sarri who has shone in his maiden Serie A campaign with the success spurring talk of the 56-year tactician moving to bigger clubs including AC Milan. Empoli sit a comfortable 11 points above a relegation spot and are nearly guaranteed a second season in Serie A.
Napoli have ridden the wave of a three-match winning streak to close the gap on Lazio and Roma to two and three points and still have designs on securing automatic entrance to the Champions League group phase by grabbing second place in the season’s final six matches.
In the first encounter of the season Empoli displayed their quality and surprised coach Rafa Benitez’s side as Napoli had to rally from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 home draw. Azzurri playmaker Riccardo Saponara was missing from that contest and has provided a spark to Empoli’s attack since his return from a serious left knee injury.
Expect Benitez to rotate the side on Thursday given the string of matches facing the Partenopei in the coming week. Napoli follow up Thursday’s match by hosting AC Milan Sunday evening and then entertaining Ukranian side Dnipro at the San Paolo for the first leg of the Europa League semi-final the following Thursday.
Sarri’s men have ably defended their home turf losing only four of their 16 matches and none in the last five at the Castellani and are difficult to break down having surrendered an average of a single goal per match.
However, they’ll have to make due without stalwart defender Lorenzo Tonelli who is serving a suspension for a post-match altercation on Sunday with Atalanta’s German Denis.
After a year of battling through various injuries, Benitez’s side is relatively healthy and the Spaniard should have the full squad at his disposal with only Juan Zuniga and Michu missing and no disqualifications.
An already potent attack has been solidified with the introduction of Lorenzo Insigne from a long-term knee injury.
The native Napoli winger had a brilliant performance against Sampdoria and in their last five overall matches have scored 16 goals while surrendering only five and have not been blanked since exiting the Coppa Italia semi-final at the hands of Lazio.
Form Guide: Empoli (D-D-L-L-W-D) Napoli (W-W-W-L-D-L)
Expected Starting XIs
Empoli: Sepe; Hysaj, Barba, Rugani, Mario Rui; Vecino, Valdifiori, Croce; Saponara; Maccarone, Pucciarelli
Napoli: Andujar; Maggio, Albiol, Britos, Strnic; Inler, Gargano; Gabbiadini, Hamsik, Insigne; Zapata
