The commencement of the Serie A weekend is initiated by the encounter between Empoli and Bologna at the Stadio Carlo Castellani on Friday evening. Bologna, the visiting team, saw their extended streak of victories halted by an impressive Inter Milan side in the previous weekend. However, they aim to bolster their credentials for Champions League contention by securing a victory in this match.
Match preview
In a recent fixture, Bologna faced a setback against a determined Inter Milan, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat due to Yann Bisseck’s first-half header. However, the match statistics reveal a more nuanced narrative, with Bologna dominating with 19 shots compared to Inter’s five, and thwarting the league leaders from generating any shots in the second half.
Post-match, Simone Inzaghi commended Thiago Motta’s team, though the defeat marked the end of Bologna’s six-match winning streak in Serie A. Despite this setback, Bologna has secured crucial victories, including against Fiorentina, Atalanta BC, and Lazio, bolstering their pursuit of a top-four finish.
The recent improvement in Bologna’s away form, evident in consecutive victories after a solitary win in their first 11 away league fixtures, signals a potential turning point. Although currently holding onto a top-four position, Bologna faces a critical match against struggling Empoli. However, historical data suggests Bologna’s struggles at the Carlo Castellani, having failed to win in all 12 league visits.
Conversely, Empoli finds themselves in a precarious position amidst the relegation battle. With Salernitana likely facing relegation, Empoli sits just above the danger zone, with a mere one-point lead over 18th-placed Frosinone. Despite a promising start under Davide Nicola’s tenure, Empoli has suffered consecutive 1-0 defeats, hampering their survival hopes.
Empoli’s upcoming fixtures pose significant challenges, including encounters against top-tier teams like Inter, Atalanta, and Lazio, emphasizing the importance of securing points against lower-ranked opponents. Failure to do so could result in relegation for the Tuscan side, making matches against Lecce, Frosinone, and Udinese imperative in their bid for survival.
Team News
Empoli will face a setback as Jacopo Fazzini, having accumulated his fifth booking of the season last weekend, will be unavailable for selection. Additionally, Alberto Grassi’s recent injury concern will also sideline him for the upcoming fixture.
Szymon Zurkowski, who returned to the midfield in the previous match, stands as the club’s leading scorer with four goals. Notably, all four goals were scored within his initial 108 minutes of gameplay following his return from Spezia in January.
Empoli’s struggle to find the back of the net is evident, having failed to score in 15 out of their 28 games this season. Consequently, Mbaye Niang will be tasked with addressing their scoring deficiencies. Niang earned his first start for the club in the previous match against his former team, Milan, after making an impact off the bench in his initial three appearances since joining from Adana Demirspor.
The absence of Joshua Zirkzee poses a significant concern for the visiting team. Zirkzee, a key contributor to their success this season, has reached double figures in goals scored in Serie A. Furthermore, his adept hold-up play aligns with Motta’s offensive strategy, and the team has noticeably struggled in his absence due to recent injury setbacks.
In addition to Zirkzee’s absence, Jesper Karlsson is set to be sidelined due to a sprained ankle, while Adama Soumaoro’s season-ending knee injury further depletes the team’s defensive options.
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Caprile; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz, Luperto; Gyasi, Zurkowski, Marin, Maleh, Pezzella; Niang, Cambiaghi
Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Calafiori, Kristiansen; Freuler, Ferguson, Fabbian; Orsolini, Odgaard, Saelemaekers