Fiorentina v Empoli- Preview : Viola looking to stay at top with win in all Tuscan affair
Fiorentina are currently in 1st place in Serie A along with Inter but the Viola have a superior goal difference, whilst Empoli sit in a modest 13th place.
The home side racked up an impressive 2-0 away win against Sampdoria, whilst the Azzurri could not protect a one goal lead against reigning champions Juventus at the Stadio Carlo Castellani eventually succumbing to a 3-1 defeat.
Although the two cities lie just 12 miles apart from each other, the two teams have only faced each other 18 times in their history. Overall it is the home side who hold the historical advantage with ten wins, whilst the visitors have only ever won one game against their rivals in a 2-1 win in the 1997/98 season.
Fiorentina drew with Empoli 1-1 in the same fixture last season with Juan Manuel Vargas and Lorenzo Tonelli grabbing the goals.
The Viola’s home form this season has been second to none with team losing just one game against Roma in Florence and keeping four clean sheets in six matches.
Empoli’s away form hasn’t been too shabby either with the Azzurri picking up half of their 14-point haul on the road including wins over Palermo and Udinese. They have also scored in every away game this season so far.
Viola coach Paulo Sousa will have to do without summer signing Jakub Blaszczykowski, who suffered an arm injury after just twelve in the international friendly between Poland and Iceland and will be out for almost a month.
Empoli boss Marco Giampaolo has no fresh injury concerns.
Form Guide: Fiorentina (W-W-W-L-L) Empoli (L-W-D-W-L)
Expected Starting XIs
Fiorentina: Tatarusanu; Astori, G. Rodriguez, Tomovic; Alonso, Vecino, Suarez, Bernardeschi; Borja Valero, Rossi; Babacar
Empoli: Skorupski; Mario Rui, Costa, Tonelli, Laurini; Paredes, Diousse, Zielinski; Saponara; Maccarone, Pucciarelli