Empoli v Sampdoria is a Serie A Week 18 match to be played on Monday at 20:45: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
Empoli are fresh from their great show of character at the Olimpico against Lazio. The Azzurri, until now almost always empty-handed against the big teams, did not lose heart seven days ago despite the double lead of the Biancocelesti of ex-Sarri and in the last minutes they evened the score with Caputo and Marin, returning from the capital with a golden point.
A draw that extends the positive mini-series that began in November: in the first match of 2023 the team coached by Paolo Zanetti had drawn 1-1 in Udine and in the last match before the break for the World Cup Cremonese had to surrender at the ‘Castellani’ (2-0) in an important direct clash. Three consecutive useful results that allowed the Tuscans to further widen the gap from the relegation zone. And in the post-match against Sampdoria, currently third-last together with Verona, the advantage over the red zone could become 13 points should Empoli get the better of them. A possible ‘match point’, therefore, as far as the salvation games are concerned, which the Tuscan formation is going to conquer for the second year in a row with enormous advance.
Samp, better away than at home
Spezia’s success at home to Torino puts the bottom three in even more difficulty, and there are now seven points to make up on fourth-last-placed Sassuolo for Dejan Stankovic’s Blucerchiati, who are almost obliged to win in Tuscany if they are not to lose any more ground.
The blucerchiato Augello against Napoli
Samp had given comforting signs of life in the away match against Dionisi’s neroverdi, beaten 2-1 in the first match of the calendar year, but avoiding defeat against Napoli was frankly too difficult a task (0-2), as was winning in Florence in the Coppa Italia, where the Ligurians were pierced by the goal of the violet Barak in the week. Apart from the two strikes against Sassuolo, the Doriano attack continues to struggle: it is the worst ever with eight goals scored, six of which, however, were scored away from home.
The Prediction
Sampdoria have not lost at Empoli since 2007 and have been unbeaten in all of their last seven matches at the ‘Castellani’. The Blucerchiati have so far done better away – seven of their nine points have come away from home – and they should be able to avoid defeat against an Empoli side who have no particular worries and could settle for a draw. It is a match that is likely to turn on in the second half, especially if Sampoli are forced to chase or if they fail to unlock the result in the first half. Both should score at least one goal on each side.
Empoli v Sampdoria
likely line-ups
- EMPOLI (4-3-1-2): Vicario; Stojanovic, Ismajli, Luperto, Parisi; Marin, Akpa Akpro, Bandinelli; Baldanzi; Caputo, Satriano.
- SAMPDORIA (3-4-1-2): Audero; Murillo, Nuytinck, Amione; Leris, Verre, Vieira, Augello; Djuricic; Gabbiadini, Lammers.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
