Serie A Preview: Empoli vs Napoli – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction | OneFootball

Sunday’s Serie A action gets underway at Stadio Carlo Castellani as early surprise package Empoli take on pacesetters Napoli. Despite their pre-match favorite tag, the visitors would be well-advised not to underestimate their overachieving hosts.

Empoli squandered an early lead in a frustrating 2-1 defeat at Lazio on the stroke of October’s international break. Pedro’s 84th-minute winner rendered Taty Castellanos’ missed penalty at the start of the second half irrelevant to knock Gli Azzurri down from a six-match unbeaten league opening (W2, D4).

Lazio’s comeback may have curtailed Empoli’s momentum, but it didn’t change the fact that this is the Tuscan outfit’s best Serie A start in nearly 20 years. Roberto D’Aversa deserves much of the credit for Empoli’s incredible recovery after taking their battle for survival to the final day of last season.

However, his managerial credentials are about to be severely tested, with high-flying Napoli rolling into town. Antonio Conte is on the verge of another season-long fight for the Scudetto in charge of his third team in Serie A. After guiding Inter and Juventus to the title, he’s eager to replicate those successes at Napoli.

Conte’s touchline debut was far from inspiring as Hellas Verona thrashed Napoli 3-0 on the opening Serie A weekend. But his charges have since gone into overdrive, racking up five wins in six league matches (D1) to ascend the throne before the international break. There’s hardly any room for complacency, with second-placed Inter only two points adrift.

Match Preview

Empoli

In addition to their dream Serie A start, Empoli squeezed past Torino 2-1 to reach the Coppa Italia Round of 16. With enthusiasm at an all-time high despite the abovementioned heartbreak at the Stadio Olimpico, the home side may feel upbeat about their chances of upsetting the apple cart on Sunday.

Outperforming an underdog tag has become a trait often associated with Empoli under D’Aversa. They’ve defied the odds to take nine of a possible 18 Serie A points as pre-match outsiders (W2, D3, L1) this season, suggesting this encounter will be anything but another day in the office for a more esteemed Napoli.

Carlo Castellani, however, has been a venue of boredom. Empoli’s three home league clashes this term have all ended 0-0. But considering they held Juventus and Fiorentina winless in that sequence, it’s almost impossible to rule out another unexpected turn of events.

Napoli

There’s a reason Napoli cannot take their upcoming hosts for granted. Empoli were the only Serie A team to pull off a league double over the Partenopei last term, keeping them goalless in both meetings. A 1-0 defeat in this corresponding fixture in April wasn’t a one-off either.

Napoli have slumped to three defeats across their last four top-flight visits to Carlo Castellani (W1). The only exception was a 2-0 victory in February 2023 en route to their first Scudetto in 33 years. With Conte looking to restore glory days in Naples, a repeat would be a welcoming boost.

It’s hard to put it past Napoli to do just that. After the early disappointment at Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, they’ve kept a clean sheet against Juventus (0-0) and Cagliari (4-0) on their last two Serie A travels. That was also the case in a 3-0 romping of Como right before the international break.

Team News

Saba Sazonov and Tyronne Ebuehi remain on the sidelines. But, the more pressing issue for Napoli is the absence of Szymon Zurkowski. Experienced goalkeeper Sameuele Perisan is close to regaining full fitness, though this game will come too soon for the 27-year-old.

As for Napoli, first-choice stopper Alex Meret is unavailable for selection. The same goes for star midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, who picked up an injury during the international break. Meanwhile, Conte has frozen Mario Rui out of the squad.

Empoli vs Napoli Potential Line-ups

Empoli (3-4-2-1): Devis Vasquez; Saba Goglichidze, Ardian Ismajli, Mattia Viti; Emmanuel Gyasi, Alberto Grassi, Tino Anjorin, Giuseppe Pezzella; Jacopo Fazzini, Sebastiano Esposito; Lorenzo Colombo.

Napoli (4-3-3): Elia Caprile; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Alessandro Buongiorno, Leonardo Spinazzola; Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour, Scott McTominay; Matteo Politano, Romelu Lukaku, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Empoli vs Napoli Prediction