Preview: Empoli vs. Lecce - prediction, team news, lineups

After going winless successful their past 4 outings, Empoli volition fancy their chances of snapping that streak erstwhile they big Lecce astatine Stadio Carlo Castellani for circular 20 of Serie A.

The Azzurri presently beryllium 12th successful the standings with 20 points from 19 matches, holding a three-point cushion implicit the visitors, who stay rooted successful the driblet zone, lone propped up by Venezia and Monza successful 19th and 20th, respectively.

Match preview

© Imago

Empoli caput into this weekend's clash connected the backmost of a 1-1 gully against Venezia, with Sebastiano Esposito's 32nd-minute equaliser rescuing a important constituent for Roberto D'Aversa's side, who had been staring down the tube of a 4th consecutive decision aft falling down to an aboriginal Joel Pohjanpalo strike.

Having halted their losing streak with that result, the Tuscany-based outfit volition beryllium anxious to propulsion connected successful hunt of a amended result successful their adjacent game, with the purpose of putting an extremity to their four-match winless run.

They mightiness not find a much favourable hostile than a struggling Lecce broadside that person lone managed to debar decision successful 2 of their 9 Serie A distant fixtures.

Empoli's grounds against the visitors offers further encouragement heading into the weekend, having won 3 of the 5 apical formation meetings betwixt the sides astatine the Castellani portion remaining unbeaten successful specified encounters.

However, the hosts' struggles connected their ain turf rise concerns implicit their chances of securing each 3 points, with conscionable 1 triumph from 9 matches astatine the Castellani and lone 7 points claimed from a imaginable twenty-seven - the third-worst grounds successful the league.

What had seemed similar a gradual resurgence for Lecce pursuing the assignment of caput manager Marco Giampaolo is present showing signs of unravelling, with caller results opening to measurement heavily.

The Italian manager, appointed connected November 11 aft the dismissal of erstwhile caput manager Luca Gotti, made a beardown commencement to his tenure, picking up 7 points from a imaginable 12, but helium has present gone 3 games without a victory, including a goalless gully against Genoa successful their astir caller outing.

Despite an betterment since Giampaolo's arrival, with the squad averaging 1.14 points per crippled compared to the 0.75 they collected during their archetypal 12 matches nether Gotti, Lecce stay profoundly entrenched successful the relegation battle.

Lecce's struggles this play person mostly been driven by their disappointing performances connected the road, having picked up conscionable 4 points - the 2nd worst distant tally successful the part - and scoring lone 2 goals successful specified encounters, the fewest of each sides.

Empoli Serie A form:

Empoli signifier (all competitions):

Lecce Serie A form:

Team News

© Imago

Ola Solbakken and Pietro Pellegri stay sidelined for the play arsenic they retrieve from ACL injuries, portion Solbakken is besides nursing a enarthrosis occupation that is expected to support him retired until precocious January.

Lorenzo Colombo is apt to pb the enactment for the hosts erstwhile again, aiming to extremity his caller adust spell, having gone 2 league matches without uncovering the net.

As for the visitors, Hamza Rafia volition play nary portion successful against Empoli arsenic helium continues to retrieve from a musculus injury, arsenic good arsenic Kialonda Gaspar, who remains retired of the play owed to an ACL injury, portion Medon Berisha (muscle) is doubtful for Saturday.

On a brighter note, Giampaolo welcomes Lameck Banda backmost to grooming pursuing his betterment from an ankle wounded sustained successful November, though the Zambian winger is improbable to diagnostic successful the starting XI this weekend.

Empoli imaginable starting lineup:
Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Anjorin, Grassi, Pezzella; Maleh, Esposito; Colombo.

Lecce imaginable starting lineup:
Falcone; Guilbert, Baschirotto, Jean, Dorgu; Coulibaly, Pierret, Kaba; Karlsson, Krstovic, Morente

We say: Empoli 2-1 Lecce

Neither broadside carries overmuch momentum into this encounter, with Empoli struggling astatine location and Lecce enduring akin difficulties connected their travels.

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