Empoli v Roma is a Week 6 match of Serie A and will be played on Monday at 20:45
EMPOLI – ROMA | Monday 8:45pm
The challenge of the “Castellani” closes the programme of the sixth day of Serie A, just 24 hours after another intense three days of European cups. Roma arrive in Empoli with the mood under their feet following the double defeat, totally unexpected, between the league and Europa League against Udinese (4-0) and Ludogorets (2-1). Two heavy and, at the same time, difficult to digest slips that upset the Giallorossi and dampened the enthusiasm that had enveloped José Mourinho’s troop since their Conference League victory, then further fuelled by an ambitious buying campaign.
Roma will therefore try to get back to winning ways immediately in order to prove that what happened at the Dacia Arena and in the Bulgarian city of Razgrad were just mishaps. In any case, it remains difficult to explain how it was possible for the capital’s defence to concede six goals in the space of a few days, when they had barely conceded one in the first four days of the season. Doubts that plague the Portuguese coach, who is not at all happy about the sudden drop his team has experienced. In any case, the Giallorossi still have the chance to recover on both fronts and put the negative moment behind them. Empoli, on the other hand, are now addicted to draws: they have collected four in a row, including three against 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 reawakened, which for three rounds has always found the way of the goal.
Empoli v Roma: latest line-up news
Lammers and Stojanovic
In the Empoli attack, Lammers, who scored in Salerno together with the other striker Satriano, will probably find space: the two, by the way, seem to be in sync. Behind them is former Juventus player 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. Destro and young trequartista Baldanzi are unavailable. Bench for Bajrami.
On the other side, Mourinho will be able to return to field Karsdorp and Abraham, who were rested in Bulgaria due to some physical problems. Belotti will then return to the bench. The Lusitanian coach could then prefer Camara to Cristante in view of the other close engagement. Karsdorp and Zalewski not called up due to physical problems
The prediction
Roma are eager to put this mini-crisis behind them as soon as possible and should return with at least a point in their pocket from Empoli, where they will start as slight favourites. The Azzurri remain, however, a tough opponent who lose little, as their four draws in a row prove. It cannot be ruled out that the Tuscans will also manage to find the way of the goal against a defence, that of the Giallorossi, which seems to have lost certainties.
Empoli v Roma: the likely line-up
- 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
