Roma v Empoli is a Serie A Week 21 match to be played on Saturday at 18:00: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
Two defeats in the space of a few days and the Zaniolo case to boot. Roma, who in the first five games of 2023 had managed to open a positive mini-series by getting back on the launching pad to return to the top four – with the ‘footprint’ of Juventus’ penalty – find themselves once again called to reckon with those old ghosts that seemed to belong to a distant past.
And if returning empty-handed from Naples was all in the order of things, with the Giallorossi still putting in a good performance and coming close to a draw, the same cannot be said of the incredible false step against Cremonese in the Coppa Italia. Perhaps the ugliest Roma side of the season – Mourinho dixit – let themselves be overwhelmed by the last of the class, wasting the chance to play a semi-final against Fiorentina as favourites. The Portuguese coach then pointed out that his team struggles to play every three days, but in a few weeks the same problem will arise again, considering that the Capitolini will face the Europa League play-off against Salzburg. Getting back to scoring points in the league is now the priority. Behind the unreachable Napoli there are no less than five contenders for a place in the next Champions League packed within three points. And Roma are the tail end of this special league table: any more missteps are unacceptable.
Roma haven’t lost to Empoli since 2007
Mourinho is well aware that against Empoli his team will not be able to adopt the same approach as in the cup tie against Cremonese. The Tuscans are in great form, they have not lost since Serie A resumed, and their five consecutive useful results include the unexpected victory at the San Siro against Inter, who were brought down by a goal from the jewel Baldanzi.
Vicario
The home draw (2-2) with Torino last week was a missed opportunity. Luperto and Marin seemed to have sealed the match, but in the last ten minutes Paolo Zanetti’s Azzurri stopped playing and were caught up by the dreadful Ricci-Sanabria one-two. The three points would have brought Empoli closer to seventh place, which could be worth qualifying for the Conference League if the Coppa Italia ended up in the trophy cabinet of a team that had already clinched a place in the top six. The Tuscans travel to the capital with salvation already in their pockets and will try to get a result against a team they haven’t beaten since 2007 (but didn’t play at the Olimpico).
Roma v Empoli: latest line-up news
Zaniolo eventually stayed but remains out of the picture for Roma. The player tried to extend his hand and the club took a couple of days to think about it. He will definitely be out with Empoli: Abraham will return after the physical problems he had in Naples. The Englishman will be supported as usual by Dybala and Pellegrini. In the middle Matic and Cristante but Wijnaldum could also be called up again after his long stop. Spinazzola and Darboe are unavailable, Zalewski and Celik will play on the flanks.
In Empoli’s defence Ebuehi and Parisi, both disqualified against Torino, will return, while in attack Satriano and newcomer Piccoli will compete for a shirt. In the three-man midfield Akpa Akpro should get the better of Haas.
The prediction
Roma will react after their poor performance against Cremonese in the Coppa Italia and are slight favourites against an Empoli side who are already almost safe and who will give them a hard time, as they did against Inter in Milan. On the afternoon at the Stadio Olimpico the total number of goals is likely to be at least two.
Roma v Empoli likely line-ups
- ROMA (3-4-2-1): Rui Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Celik, Cristante, Matic, Zalewski; Dybala, Pellegrini; Abraham.
- EMPOLI (4-3-1-2): Vicario; Ebuehi, De Winter, Luperto, Parisi; Akpa-Akpro, Marin, Bandinelli; Baldanzi; Caputo, Satriano.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
