Empoli vs Genoa 29/01/19

29 January 2019

Weekend’s Serie A action concludes with a bottom-half-of-table clash between at the Stadio Carlo Castellani as a struggling Empoli side welcome an out-of-form Genoa.

Coming into this meeting with a five-game SA winless streak (D1, L4), the hosts are facing a potential slip to the relegation zone in case of another failure, as they currently sit just three points clear of 18th-placed Bologna. Empoli’s drop off in form has seen them go from three successive home wins to two straight defeats. Their fragile backline has failed to keep a clean sheet in 17 consecutive Serie A outings, which is the worst record in the Italian top tier. What’s more, the Blues have allowed over 1.5 goals per match four times in the previous five league meetings. However, Giuseppe Iachini relies on his forwards that have bagged over 1.5 goals per game in four of Empoli’s last five SA home outings.

Meanwhile, the visitors have entered this round with a five-game SA losing run away from home. In that period, the Red and Blues have conceded a total of 13 goals, allowing over 1.5 goals per match four times in the process. Cesare Prandelli’s men have been suffering on the road this campaign (W1, D1, L7), which is a consequence of their poor defensive displays. Their tally of 24 goals conceded away from home is a league joint-worst. Furthermore, without their headline performer, Krzysztof Piatek, who has recently joined AC Milan, the Grifone come into this meeting severely weakened. Piatek has scored four of Genoa’s last eight goals on the road while notching 13 of 25 they’ve scored this season.

Provisional line-up – Empoli:

Gk: Provedel Defense: Rasmussen – Silvestre – Di Lorenzo – Pasqual Midfield: Veseli – Krunic – Benaccer – Zajc – Traore Attack: Caputo

Provisional line-up – Genoa:

Gk: Andrei Radu Defense: Criscito – Zukanovic – Romero – Biraschi Midfield: Miguel Veloso – Daniel Bessa – Romulo – Darko Lazovic Attack: Kouame – Pandev