Serie A | Gameweek 13

Nov 25, 2024 at 5.30pm UK

Stadio Carlo Castellani

Empolivs.Udinese

Match preview

Empoli may have been held to a 1-1 draw by minnows Lecce in their last outing, but they returned to Tuscany with a point to show for their efforts.

Pietro Pellegri, who had scored his first goal for the club just days earlier, opened the scoring with an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner, but the home side not only equalised deep into the second half but also hit the woodwork twice.

By holding on until the final whistle, Empoli moved into the top half of the standings, ahead of the likes of Torino and Roma - and just three points behind AC Milan.

Since Roberto D'Aversa took over in the summer, the Azzurri have lost just three of their 14 games in all competitions, and they can look forward to next week's Coppa Italia clash against local rivals Fiorentina with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Having lost just one of their last six home games against Udinese in Serie A, the Bianconeri will be hoping to at least avoid another defeat on Monday, despite having scored just one league goal at the Castellani this season.

Including two draws last season, Udinese are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Empoli, who they narrowly edged out in the dramatic conclusion to their 2023-24 Serie A survival campaign.

However, the Bianconeri have lost their last three games before international duty - to Venezia, Juventus and Atalanta BC - and will travel to Tuscany with a serious dip in form.

Head coach Kosta Runjaic made an impressive start to life in Udine, taking his new club into the top five in Italy, but they have recently returned empty-handed from four consecutive away games, conceding nine goals in the process.

In their last outing, Udinese took the lead through Hassane Kamara's stunning strike in first-half stoppage time, but Atalanta hit back after the break to condemn the visitors to a 2-1 defeat in Bergamo.

Nevertheless, the majority of the Friulian faithful would have settled for ninth place in the standings after 12 games, having inherited a team that came so close to letting the club's long-held Serie A status slip away.

Recent Performance

Empoli Serie A form:LLDLWD

Udinese Serie A form:WLWLLL

Team News

Partly due to absentees, Roberto D'Aversa is likely to field a 3-5-2 formation for Empoli, with Milan loanee Lorenzo Colombo joining the rejuvenated Pietro Pellegri up front.

The latter, who has been plagued by injuries throughout a career that has included spells with Milan and Monaco, has scored in each of his last two appearances and could find the net in three consecutive games for the first time in either Serie A or Ligue 1.

Despite having a fortnight to rest a number of players, D'Aversa will still be without a number of players on Monday: Szymon Zurkowski, Samuele Perisan, Tyronne Ebuehi, Saba Sazonov, Alberto Grassi and Jacopo Fazzini are all out through injury.

Meanwhile, Udinese's attack will be led by either Keinan Davis or Lorenzo Lucca. Since making his Serie A debut last season, only Duvan Zapata (10) has scored more headed goals than Lucca (six) in the Italian top flight, but Davis is also a threat in the air.

Midfielder Martin Payero suffered a knee injury in training and joins veteran striker Alexis Sanchez on the Bianconeri's list of absentees, with the former Arsenal striker still awaiting his first appearance since returning to Udine due to an ongoing calf problem.

Possible starting lineup

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Henderson, Haas, Maleh, Pezzella; Pellegri, Colombo

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Okoye; Giannetti, Bijol, Toure; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Zarraga, Kamara; Thauvin, Lucca