Empoli-Lazio is a Serie A Week 38 match to be played on Saturday at 21:00: odds, predictions, TV and streaming
Empoli holds a special place in the memories of Maurizio Sarri, who achieved his first notable results at the helm of the Tuscan club, including promotion to Serie A and a salvation achieved with enormous anticipation. The coach, now on the biancoceleste bench, has just managed to bring Lazio back into the Champions League, a feat that in the last ten years had only been achieved by his predecessor Inzaghi, in the 2020-21 season.
Lazio have in fact already been on ‘holiday’ for a couple of weeks. And that is since the news of the new penalty inflicted on Juventus arrived. The fact that the Bianconeri slipped back to seventh place allowed the Capitolini to celebrate their return to the Champions League two rounds before the end of the championship. Sunday’s match against relegated Cremonese provided entertainment and excitement. The two teams faced each other head-to-head, with Immobile and his team-mates winning 3-2 only in the final thanks to a goal from Milinkovic-Savic – the ‘Sergeant”s permanence is not a foregone conclusion and this could be his last year in Rome – after Lazio had been denied two goals in the space of a few minutes at the start of the second half. The victory over the Grigiorossi was the second in a row. A week earlier, Sarri’s men had narrowly beaten Udinese with a penalty scored by captain Immobile: they had not won two games in a row since April.
Second place, which has never been achieved in the almost 20 years of Lotito’s stewardship, is still on the line: Lazio only need to finish ahead of Inter, currently only two points behind, to bring home another important record.
Lazio unbeaten in eight games against Empoli
This season has also been a positive one for Empoli, who, like last year, have never been involved in the fight for relegation.
Stojanovic
Not a few doubts were raised last summer about Paolo Zanetti, who ended up in Serie B a year ago with Venezia. And instead the coach from Veneto managed to do even better than his predecessor Andreazzoli, allowing the Azzurri to obtain salvation several days in advance. In the event of a victory against Lazio, Empoli would reach 46 points: it would be their second best result in the history of the competition, as in the 2015-16 season. The Tuscans’ performance has been on the rise again since May. In the last five matches Caputo and his team-mates have collected three wins and two draws, including an unforgettable 4-1 win over Juventus. The most recent record, however, says Lazio. The Biancocelesti are undefeated in their eight matches against Empoli, and have always come out on top in their last three away matches at the ‘Castellani’.
Empoli-Lazio: latest line-up news
Zanetti may have to do without his star man Ciccio Caputo. The Apulian-born striker has not recovered from the flu and is likely to sit on the bench. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that the attacking pair will be formed by Cambiaghi and Piccoli. In support there will be Fazzini, considering that Baldanzi is busy with the national Under-20 team in Argentina. In addition to Piccoli, Walukiewicz, Marin, Ebuehi and De Winter are unavailable.
In Lazio the only absentee is Marusic, while Cataldi has recovered. On the flanks Lazzari and Hysaj, in front Felipe Anderson is ahead of Pedro. Vecino is in charge.
The prediction
In the last two meetings between Empoli and Lazio, a combined total of less than four goals has never been scored: 3-3 and 2-2. It promises to be a prolific contest this time too, as both have already achieved their respective goals and are preparing to go on holiday. In short, there is very little at stake. You can also opt for the over 3.5, a sign that has occurred twice in Maurizio Sarri’s team’s last three outings.
Empoli-Lazio’s likely line-up
- EMPOLI (4-3-1-2): Vicario; Stojanovic, Ismajli, Luperto, Parisi; Akpa-Akpro, Grassi, Bandinelli; Fazzini; Piccoli, Cambiaghi.
- LAZIO (4-3-3): Provedel; Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj; Milinkovic-Savic, Vecino, Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
