Empoli v Lazio – Preview: Azzurri look to extend Biancocelesti’s winless streak

Date: 27th November 2015 at 9:00pm
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Empoli on Sunday afternoon.

The Azzurri currently find themselves sharing fourteenth place in the Serie A table with Palermo and Udinese while the Biancocelesti currently have sole possession of eighth spot. Four points currently separate the two sides.

Empoli will be looking to further distance themselves from the relegation zone whereas Lazio will be aiming to get back into a Europa League position.

Empoli are fresh off the heels of an impressive 2-2 draw away to Fiorentina and coach Marco Giampaolo will want to keep the positive results coming.
The Aquile meanwhile, remain winless in their last four matches but coach Stefano Pioli will be hoping that his men can build on their 1-1 draw against Palermo last week. A win against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in the Europa League on Thursday could serve to restore their taste for victory.

Last season, Empoli won their home fixture 2-1 with the match winner being scored by Massimo Maccarone. The return fixture saw them get thumped 4-0, despite playing with an extra man for over half an hour.

This contest has a history of discomposure, with a total of six dismissals over the last eight meetings between the two sides. The match also promises to feature goals, as neither side can claim very strong defensive records this season, Empoli conceding 20 while Lazio have allowed one more after only 13 rounds of play.

Sporticos_com_fc_empoli_vs_lazio

The home side face no suspensions this weekend while the away side must make due without defender Santiago Gentiletti who is forced to sit out due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Empoli’s Daniele Croce and Levan Mchedlidze failed fitness tests ahead of the weekend, joining Uros Cosic and Kastriot Dermaku on the treatment table. Lazio will be without the services of Stefano Mauri and Ogenyi Onazi, with Stefan De Vrij out for the remainder of the season.

This match will feature two midfield maestros in good goalscoring form, Riccardo Saponara currently Empoli’s top marksman with four goals to his name while Lazio’s Felipe Anderson can boast an identical tally.

Form Guide: Empoli: (W-D-W-L-D) Lazio (W-L-L-L-D)

Expected Starting XIs:

Empoli: Skorupski; Laurini, Tonelli, Costa, Mario Rui; Buchel, Paredes, Zielinski, Saponara; Livaja, Maccarone

Lazio: Marchetti; Basta, Hoedt, Mauricio, Lulic; Biglia, Parolo, Milinkovic-Savic, Candreva, Felipe Anderson; Djordjevic

Infographic courtesy of sporticos.com

 

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