Empoli-Roma is a match of the sixth day of Serie A and is played on Monday at 20:45
EMPOLI – ROMA | Monday at 20:45
The challenge of the «Castellani» closes the program of the sixth day of Serie A, just twenty-four hours after another intense three days of European cups. Roma arrives in Empoli with the mood underfoot due to the absolutely unexpected double defeat between the league and Europa League with Udinese (4-0) and Ludogorets (2-1). Two heavy and at the same time hard-to-digest slips that upset the Giallorossi environment and dampened the enthusiasm that had been enveloping José Mourinho’s troop since the Conference League victory, then further fomented by an ambitious buying campaign.
Roma will therefore try to return to winning ways immediately to prove that those that occurred at the Dacia Arena and in the Bulgarian city of Razgrad were merely mishaps. In any case, it remains difficult to explain how it was possible for the Capitoline defense to have cashed in as many as six goals within a few days, while in the first four days of the championship it had barely conceded one. Doubts that gripped the Portuguese coach, who was not at all happy with the sudden drop his team experienced. In any case, the Giallorossi still have a chance to pick themselves up on both fronts and put the negative moment behind them. Empoli, on the other hand, is now a season ticket holder for draws: it has collected as many as four in a row, including three with direct competitors for salvation such as Lecce, Verona and Salernitana. Paolo Zanetti’s team, however, has yet to celebrate its first victory since the new season began. For some time now, however, the attack seems to have awakened, which has always found the way of the goal for three rounds.
Empoli-Roma: the latest news on formations
Lammers and Stojanovic
In the Empoli attack, Lammers, in goal in Salerno along with the other striker Satriano, will probably find space: the two, by the way, seem to be in sync. Behind them is former Juventus man Pjaca, whose impact was very positive in the match against the Granata. In the middle it will be the turn of Grassi, Marin and Bandinelli, while Stojanovic and Parisi will act on the flanks. Unavailable are Destro and young trequartista Baldanzi. Bench for Bajrami.
On the other side, Mourinho will be able to return to field Karsdorp and Abraham, who were kept at rest in Bulgaria due to some physical problems. He will then rejoin Belotti on the bench. The Lusitanian coach could then prefer Camara to Cristante ahead of the other close engagement. Karsdorp and Zalewski not summoned due to physical problems.
The prediction
Roma is eager to file away this mini-crisis as soon as possible and should return with at least a point in their pocket from Empoli, where they will start slightly favored. In any case, the Azzurri remain a tough opponent that loses little, as evidenced by their four draws in a row. It cannot be ruled out that the Tuscans also manage to find the way of the goal against a defense, that of the Giallorossi, which seems to have lost certainties.
The likely formations of Empoli-Roma
- EMPOLI (4-3-1-2): Vicario; Stojanovic, Luperto, Ismajli, Parisi; Grassi, Marin, Bandinelli; Pjaca; Satriano, Lammers.
- ROMA (3-4-2-1): Rui Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Celik, Camara, Matic, Spinazzola; Pellegrini, Dybala; Abraham.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
