Category: Empoli

Serie A | Empoli 1-1 Salernitana: Penalty save blows race wide open

May 14, 2022

Salernitana fought back for a point in Empoli, but saw a late Diego Perotti penalty saved by Guglielmo Vicario, this result still mathematically relegating Venezia and leaving the rest wide open.

The Tuscans were already comfortably mid-table, while Davide Nicola had dragged his side kicking and screaming from a seemingly impossible situation to one point clear of the drop zone. Valerio Verre and Petar Stojanovic returned from suspension, with Riccardo Marchizza, Lorenzo Tonelli and Nicolas Haas injured. Franck Ribery and Emil Bohinen sat out bans after the chaotic 1-1 draw with Cagliari.

Serie A Liveblog: Empoli-Salernitana, Roma-Venezia, Udinese-Spezia, Verona-Torino

Just seven minutes in, Fabiano Parisi needed a goal-line clearance to prevent the Milan Djuric header on a corner. Moments later, Guglielmo Vicario fingertipped a Norbert Gyomber header onto the underside of the bar from Simone Verdi’s free kick.

However, it was Empoli who broke the deadlock when Kristjan Asllani threaded through for Patrick Cutrone, who squeezed his right-foot shot between the goalkeeper and the near post. That was Cutrone’s third Serie A goal of the season, his second past Salernitana.

Ivan Radovanovic’s daisy-cutter flashed inches wide, while Pasquale Mazzocchi and Ederson strikes skimmed the far top corner.

Valerio Verre tested Luigi Sepe from distance and Cutrone should’ve made it 2-0, his free header off target from six yards.

Guglielmo Vicario made a simply extraordinary save to claw Federico Bonazzoli’s header off the line after a Matteo Ruggeri cross.

Moments later, Empoli went on the counter and Cutrone hit the base of the upright, then Sepe needed a double save on Nedim Bajrami and Filippo Bandinelli.

Vicario made another extraordinary save on Djuric’s header and the attempted Bonazzoli tap-in. However, Vicario also fumbled the successive corner and Bonazzoli equalised with a spectacular bicycle-kick.

The drama wasn’t over, as Mamadou Coulibaly and Simone Romagnoli both lunged at the same ball, the Salernitana man getting there millimetres earlier and so a penalty was awarded after a VAR review. Diego Perotti stepped up, but his spot-kick was fingertipped out of the bottom corner by Vicario.

Andrea La Mantia almost won it for Empoli, a header inches over in the final kick. At the final whistle Perotti collapsed in tears, consoled by his teammates.

Empoli 1-1 Salernitana

Cutrone 31 (E), Bonazzoli 76 (S)

Saved penalty: Perotti 84 (S)

Two games left in Salernitana’s great escape dream

May 9, 2022

Salernitana seemed destined to suffer relegation this season but in the last month they’ve started work on a truly incredible bid to avoid the drop to Serie B, and now only two games remain.

The Campania side’s season started with four defeats on the bounce, leaving them rock bottom in the Serie A table. They would not leave the relegation zone for over half the season, only managing to briefly poke their heads out at the start of January following a win over Hellas Verona.

Unfortunately for Salernitana, they had only escaped the bottom three for one match day, and they promptly slipped back down a week later. After a 2-1 loss to Roma on April 10, they seemed certain to suffer the drop, but suddenly they began to turn things around.

Everything changed on April 16, when they beat fellow relegation candidates Sampdoria 2-1 in Liguria. This seemed to give the team the spark they so desperately needed and they followed up that result with a 1-0 away win over Udinese only four days later.

Four days after that, they hosted a European challenging Fiorentina side and managed to upset the odds, pulling off a 2-1 win. Suddenly the Campania side began to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

A 1-1 draw with Atalanta in Bergamo was sufficient and was followed up by a vital 2-1 victory over Venezia three days later, in what was essentially a relegation play-off match.

Salernitana almost secured another vital three points in yesterday’s match with currently Serie B bound Cagliari, but a 99th minute equaliser by Giorgio Altare gives the Sardinian side hope.

With only two games remaining – against Empoli and Udinese – Salernitana are on the cusp of achieving one of the greatest relegation zone escapes seen in Serie A for years. Things will be tense, however, as they only sit a point ahead of 18th place Cagliari.

Empoli vs. Salernitana Predictions & Betting Tips

May 9, 2022

Just seven points separate the two sides ahead of these Empoli vs. Salernitana predictions, with both teams in the lower half of the Serie A table. The hosts have been in miserable form without a win in three, while the opposite is true for the visitors.

Empoli vs. Salernitana odds

1 – Salernitana to win – 13/10

2 – One-goal winning margin –  5/1

3 – Under 3.5 goals scored – 4/6

4 – Both teams to score – 1/2

5 –  Bonazzoli to score anytime – 13/10

Salernitana travel to face Empoli on Saturday looking to continue a truly remarkable run of results. The Granata are one of only two teams in Serie A to go unbeaten in their last six games – the other being league leaders Milan.

The incredible form of Davide Nicola’s side has seen them catapult out of the relegation zone, with last week’s draw against Cagliari further reinforcing their safety – despite the late heartbreak. This weekend Salernitana travel to Empoli with the opportunity to jump potentially as high as 15th in the Serie A table, just one spot below their weekend opponents.

The hosts on Saturday have had a wildly different experience in the past few weeks, winning just one of their last six. Aurelio Andreazzoli’s side are mathematically safe from relegation, which will have been their target at the beginning of the season, and arguably have rested on their laurels in recent weeks.

With the battle very much still on for the visitors, we tip Salernitana as the team to win on Saturday afternoon. Should they do so, it is likely to be by a margin of just one goal, as has been the case in all seven of their wins in Serie A this season.

Looking in on past form, another safe bet may be on a low scoreline this weekend. The Granata have earned their recent success on being defensively compact and not allowing space for their opponents to attack. Furthermore, Empoli have been far from prolific this season, averaging just 1.3 goals per game, so a bet on under 3.5 goals scored has a good chance of paying out.

On a similar note, neither side has been particularly impressive at keeping clean sheets, with Salernitana boasting just two this season and Empoli just a little better with six. A bet on both teams to score at the Stadio Carlo Castellani should therefore be considered.

Super-sub Federico Bonazzoli is our tip to score anytime, having notched two goals in his last four games, despite starting just once. The Italian is Salernitana’s top scorer this season and one more strike will take him into double figures.

How to stream Empoli vs. Salernitana

You can stream Empoli vs. Salernitana live this weekend via a funded bet365 account, or by placing a bet within 24 hours of kick-off. Fans looking to watch from abroad could do so by subscribing to an ExpressVPN account. To sign up and claim three months extra free:

  • Head to expressvpn.com
  • Click ‘Get the #1 Rated VPN’
  • Choose your plan
  • Enter email address and payment details
  • Click ‘Join Now’ and download app

Empoli vs. Salernitana last five matches

Empoli last five matches

Salernitana last five matches

Empoli top goalscorers

Salernitana top goalscorers

Empoli vs. Salernitana line-ups

Empoli (4-3-1-2): Vicario; Fiamozzi, Luperto, Romagnoli, Parisi; Zurkowski, Stulac, Bandinelli; Asllani; Pinamonti, Bajrami.

Salernitana (3-5-2): Sepe; Gyomber, Fazio, Radovanovic; Mazzocchi, Ederson, Bohinen, Coulibaly, Ruggeri; Djuric, Verdi.

Empoli team news

Andreazzoli has the majority of his squad available, with Lorenzo Tonelli and Nicolas Haas the only potential absentees from Saturday’s game. The Azzurri coach is unlikely to make any major changes to the team, with Liam Henderson the only potential change in midfield. Federico Di Francesco is unlikely to play a role after being substituted after just eight minutes last weekend.

Salernitana team news

No changes are expected from Davide Nicola, who has looked to retain consistency during his team’s remarkable run. Mamadou Coulibaly remains the only injury absence for the visitors, who will also be without Franck Ribery after the winger received a red card from the bench against Cagliari.

Lautaro Martinez: ‘Inter the most important thing’

May 6, 2022

Lautaro Martinez explains the difficulty of his first goal in the 4-2 comeback win over Empoli and why ‘Inter is the most important thing of all.’

The Nerazzurri were shaken after going 2-0 down at San Siro to Empoli with Andrea Pinamonti and Kristjan Asllani goals, but Simone Romagnoli put into his own net before Lautaro Martinez equalised.

The turnaround was completed after the restart with another Lautaro Martinez strike and Alexis Sanchez in stoppages.

“We managed to recover after going two goals down and played in the second half with the intensity that we are capable of,” the Argentina international told DAZN.

“My first goal was certainly tougher than the second, because I saw the goalkeeper had two players in front of him, so I aimed for the far post.”

This victory sends Inter temporarily top of the Serie A table, awaiting Milan’s trip to Hellas Verona on Sunday.

“It was an important game for us, but then we’ve been saying that for weeks now. We’re in the running for another title and we must do everything we can to win it.”

Meanwhile, Lautaro Martinez has already achieved a new personal best with 23 competitive goals this season.

“I try to improve every day and keep raising the bar. I also must do what the coach asks, because Inter is the most important thing of all.”

Lautaro was asked if he has written to his fellow Argentina international Giovanni Simeone to encourage Verona to give their best against Milan.

“No, no, I don’t need to do that, I am sure Verona will put in a great performance.”

Serie A Highlights: Inter 4-2 Empoli

May 6, 2022

Watch as Empoli stun the San Siro crowd by going 2-0 up, but Inter complete an extraordinary comeback to win 4-2, not to mention VAR drama and the upright rattled.

Inter-owned Andrea Pinamonti opened the scoring on Szymon Zurkowski’s assist, but VAR took centre-stage when another Empoli goal was disallowed for an earlier offside and the Nerazzurri penalty award was revoked.

Serie A | Inter 4-2 Empoli: Lautaro comeback keeps Scudetto race alive

Kristjan Asllani did double their lead after a defensive error, but Simone Romagnoli’s own goal and a Lautaro Martinez first-time strike off the outside of the boot completed the comeback.

Inter took control, Lautaro Martinez and Alexis Sanchez scoring around Edin Dzeko hitting the upright.

Lautaro nets twice as Inter rally from two behind to beat Empoli and move top of Serie A

May 6, 2022

Lautaro Martinez’s brace got Inter Milan back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Empoli 4-2 and keep their Serie A title hopes alive.

Inter, who lost control of the title race by losing to Bologna nine days ago, fell two goals behind to strikes from Andrea Pinamonti after five minutes and Kristjan Asllani just before the half-hour mark.

However, an own goal from Simone Romagnoli five minutes before the break gave them a lifeline and Lautaro crashed home Hakan Calhanoglu’s pull-back to get them even before the break after an incredible first half.

Serie A

Inter keep their Scudetto dream alive with Udinese win

01/05/2022 AT 15:54

There only looked like being one winner after that point, though it took nearly 20 minutes before Lautaro, with another crashing finish, gave them the crucial lead.

The home side kept pouring forward and after a host of chances were squandered, before Alexis Sanchez turned home Edin Dzeko’s cross in injury time to seal the win.

Inter are now a point clear of AC Milan, having played a game more, with their city rivals set to play at Verona on Sunday.

TALKING POINT – Inter stared into the abyss but fight on

You can look at it two ways. How could Inter go two goals down to a side in mid-table – especially having lost to Bologna recently? And there is the suspicion that if they had not been gifted a goal from Romagnoli – and a questionable disallowed goal – the tough night might have extended deep into the second half at least. But when they needed them most, their key men took control and turned the game back in their favour. Their co-tenants remain the favourites and even a draw at Verona would leave them in control with two games remaining due to their head-to-head advantage over Inter. But Inter live to fight another day and it certainly looked like this might not be the case a third of the way into this match.

MAN OF THE MATCH – Ivan Perisic (Inter)

It would have been easy to give the award to Lautaro Martinez whose two efforts which won the game were sublime. But if there was one Inter player who showed his best form throughout the game, even in that difficult first half-hour, it was Perisic who did not stop tormenting the right-hand side of the Empoli defence for the whole game and his cross led to the own goal which brought the hosts back into the game. There might not be a better deliverer of a ball from that flank in world football. If his team-mates had been on form Inter could have doubled their score.

PLAYER RATINGS

Inter: Handanovic 6; Skriniar 6, De Vrij 6, Dimarco 7; Dumfries 7, Barella 7, Brozovic 6, Calhanoglu 8, Perisic 9*; Lautaro Martinez 8, Correa 6.

Subs: Dzeko 7, Vidal 6, D’Ambrosio 6, Darmian 6, Sanchez 6.

Empoli: Vicario 7; Fiamozzi 5 Romagnoli 6, Luperto 6, Parisi 5; Zurkowski 7, Stulac 6, Bandinelli 6; Asllani 6, Bajrami 6, Pinamonti 7.

Subs: Henderson 6, Di Francesco 6, Cutrone 6, Ismajli 6, Benassi 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

5′ GOAL FOR EMPOLI! What a fantastic start! It was a fantastic run down the right flank from Zurkowski and his low cross behind the defence was met on the stretch from Pinamonti.

10′ GOAL – NO! It looked like Inter were two down but Zukowski’s goal was disallowed for an offside against Pinamonti. He slotted the ball home superbly.

23′ PENALTY FOR INTER! It looked like Parisi got the ball when Barella went down. Now the referee is looking at the video screen. It’s been over-ruled, no penalty.

28′ GOAL FOR EMPOLI! Amazing! A long ball over the top was brilliantly controlled by Asllani who directed the ball wide of Handanovic and then slid the ball under him for his first Serie A goal.

40′ GOAL FOR INTER! An own goal from Romagnoli and maybe that is what they needed to get back into the game. Dimarco slid a low cross behind the defence and with a desperate lunge the defender shinned the ball into the net.

45′ GOAL FOR INTER! Crisis over? Well, they will at least go in level. Lautaro slammed the ball home with the outside of his right boot after Calhanoglu pulled the ball back from the left by-line.

64′ GOAL FOR INTER! It was coming. Another period of pinball in the Empoli box led to the ball being hit in the direction of Lautaro and he lashed home a low effort which even Vicario didn’t have a chance to stop.

90+2′ OFF THE POST! A fine run from Dzeko skipping past a diving challenge before hitting a shot which had Vicario beaten but came back off the post.

90+4′ GOAL FOR INTER! Finally Inter get a fourth and it is from Sanchez who was all alone at the far post after Dzeko pulled the ball across from the left-hand side of the six-yard box.

KEY STAT

Serie A

Inter suffer title blow as Arnautovic and Sansone seal Bologna win

27/04/2022 AT 17:21

Serie A

Empoli score three late goals in seven minutes to stun Napoli

24/04/2022 AT 12:04

Lautaro nets twice as Inter rally from two behind to beat Empoli and move top of Serie A

May 6, 2022

Lautaro Martinez’s brace got Inter Milan back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Empoli 4-2 and keep their Serie A title hopes alive.

Inter, who lost control of the title race by losing to Bologna nine days ago, fell two goals behind to strikes from Andrea Pinamonti after five minutes and Kristjan Asllani just before the half-hour mark.

However, an own goal from Simone Romagnoli five minutes before the break gave them a lifeline and Lautaro crashed home Hakan Calhanoglu’s pull-back to get them even before the break after an incredible first half.

Serie A

Inter keep their Scudetto dream alive with Udinese win

01/05/2022 AT 15:54

There only looked like being one winner after that point, though it took nearly 20 minutes before Lautaro, with another crashing finish, gave them the crucial lead.

The home side kept pouring forward and after a host of chances were squandered, before Alexis Sanchez turned home Edin Dzeko’s cross in injury time to seal the win.

Inter are now a point clear of AC Milan, having played a game more, with their city rivals set to play at Verona on Sunday.

TALKING POINT – Inter stared into the abyss but fight on

You can look at it two ways. How could Inter go two goals down to a side in mid-table – especially having lost to Bologna recently? And there is the suspicion that if they had not been gifted a goal from Romagnoli – and a questionable disallowed goal – the tough night might have extended deep into the second half at least. But when they needed them most, their key men took control and turned the game back in their favour. Their co-tenants remain the favourites and even a draw at Verona would leave them in control with two games remaining due to their head-to-head advantage over Inter. But Inter live to fight another day and it certainly looked like this might not be the case a third of the way into this match.

MAN OF THE MATCH – Ivan Perisic (Inter)

It would have been easy to give the award to Lautaro Martinez whose two efforts which won the game were sublime. But if there was one Inter player who showed his best form throughout the game, even in that difficult first half-hour, it was Perisic who did not stop tormenting the right-hand side of the Empoli defence for the whole game and his cross led to the own goal which brought the hosts back into the game. There might not be a better deliverer of a ball from that flank in world football. If his team-mates had been on form Inter could have doubled their score.

PLAYER RATINGS

Inter: Handanovic 6; Skriniar 6, De Vrij 6, Dimarco 7; Dumfries 7, Barella 7, Brozovic 6, Calhanoglu 8, Perisic 9*; Lautaro Martinez 8, Correa 6.

Subs: Dzeko 7, Vidal 6, D’Ambrosio 6, Darmian 6, Sanchez 6.

Empoli: Vicario 7; Fiamozzi 5 Romagnoli 6, Luperto 6, Parisi 5; Zurkowski 7, Stulac 6, Bandinelli 6; Asllani 6, Bajrami 6, Pinamonti 7.

Subs: Henderson 6, Di Francesco 6, Cutrone 6, Ismajli 6, Benassi 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

5′ GOAL FOR EMPOLI! What a fantastic start! It was a fantastic run down the right flank from Zurkowski and his low cross behind the defence was met on the stretch from Pinamonti.

10′ GOAL – NO! It looked like Inter were two down but Zukowski’s goal was disallowed for an offside against Pinamonti. He slotted the ball home superbly.

23′ PENALTY FOR INTER! It looked like Parisi got the ball when Barella went down. Now the referee is looking at the video screen. It’s been over-ruled, no penalty.

28′ GOAL FOR EMPOLI! Amazing! A long ball over the top was brilliantly controlled by Asllani who directed the ball wide of Handanovic and then slid the ball under him for his first Serie A goal.

40′ GOAL FOR INTER! An own goal from Romagnoli and maybe that is what they needed to get back into the game. Dimarco slid a low cross behind the defence and with a desperate lunge the defender shinned the ball into the net.

45′ GOAL FOR INTER! Crisis over? Well, they will at least go in level. Lautaro slammed the ball home with the outside of his right boot after Calhanoglu pulled the ball back from the left by-line.

64′ GOAL FOR INTER! It was coming. Another period of pinball in the Empoli box led to the ball being hit in the direction of Lautaro and he lashed home a low effort which even Vicario didn’t have a chance to stop.

90+2′ OFF THE POST! A fine run from Dzeko skipping past a diving challenge before hitting a shot which had Vicario beaten but came back off the post.

90+4′ GOAL FOR INTER! Finally Inter get a fourth and it is from Sanchez who was all alone at the far post after Dzeko pulled the ball across from the left-hand side of the six-yard box.

KEY STAT

Serie A

Inter suffer title blow as Arnautovic and Sansone seal Bologna win

27/04/2022 AT 17:21

Serie A

Empoli score three late goals in seven minutes to stun Napoli

24/04/2022 AT 12:04

Lautaro nets twice as Inter rally from two behind to beat Empoli and move top of Serie A

May 6, 2022

Lautaro Martinez’s brace got Inter Milan back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Empoli 4-2 and keep their Serie A title hopes alive.

Inter, who lost control of the title race by losing to Bologna nine days ago, fell two goals behind to strikes from Andrea Pinamonti after five minutes and Kristjan Asllani just before the half-hour mark.

However, an own goal from Simone Romagnoli five minutes before the break gave them a lifeline and Lautaro crashed home Hakan Calhanoglu’s pull-back to get them even before the break after an incredible first half.

Serie A

Inter keep their Scudetto dream alive with Udinese win

01/05/2022 AT 15:54

There only looked like being one winner after that point, though it took nearly 20 minutes before Lautaro, with another crashing finish, gave them the crucial lead.

The home side kept pouring forward and after a host of chances were squandered, before Alexis Sanchez turned home Edin Dzeko’s cross in injury time to seal the win.

Inter are now a point clear of AC Milan, having played a game more, with their city rivals set to play at Verona on Sunday.

TALKING POINT – Inter stared into the abyss but fight on

You can look at it two ways. How could Inter go two goals down to a side in mid-table – especially having lost to Bologna recently? And there is the suspicion that if they had not been gifted a goal from Romagnoli – and a questionable disallowed goal – the tough night might have extended deep into the second half at least. But when they needed them most, their key men took control and turned the game back in their favour. Their co-tenants remain the favourites and even a draw at Verona would leave them in control with two games remaining due to their head-to-head advantage over Inter. But Inter live to fight another day and it certainly looked like this might not be the case a third of the way into this match.

MAN OF THE MATCH – Ivan Perisic (Inter)

It would have been easy to give the award to Lautaro Martinez whose two efforts which won the game were sublime. But if there was one Inter player who showed his best form throughout the game, even in that difficult first half-hour, it was Perisic who did not stop tormenting the right-hand side of the Empoli defence for the whole game and his cross led to the own goal which brought the hosts back into the game. There might not be a better deliverer of a ball from that flank in world football. If his team-mates had been on form Inter could have doubled their score.

PLAYER RATINGS

Inter: Handanovic 6; Skriniar 6, De Vrij 6, Dimarco 7; Dumfries 7, Barella 7, Brozovic 6, Calhanoglu 8, Perisic 9*; Lautaro Martinez 8, Correa 6.

Subs: Dzeko 7, Vidal 6, D’Ambrosio 6, Darmian 6, Sanchez 6.

Empoli: Vicario 7; Fiamozzi 5 Romagnoli 6, Luperto 6, Parisi 5; Zurkowski 7, Stulac 6, Bandinelli 6; Asllani 6, Bajrami 6, Pinamonti 7.

Subs: Henderson 6, Di Francesco 6, Cutrone 6, Ismajli 6, Benassi 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

5′ GOAL FOR EMPOLI! What a fantastic start! It was a fantastic run down the right flank from Zurkowski and his low cross behind the defence was met on the stretch from Pinamonti.

10′ GOAL – NO! It looked like Inter were two down but Zukowski’s goal was disallowed for an offside against Pinamonti. He slotted the ball home superbly.

23′ PENALTY FOR INTER! It looked like Parisi got the ball when Barella went down. Now the referee is looking at the video screen. It’s been over-ruled, no penalty.

28′ GOAL FOR EMPOLI! Amazing! A long ball over the top was brilliantly controlled by Asllani who directed the ball wide of Handanovic and then slid the ball under him for his first Serie A goal.

40′ GOAL FOR INTER! An own goal from Romagnoli and maybe that is what they needed to get back into the game. Dimarco slid a low cross behind the defence and with a desperate lunge the defender shinned the ball into the net.

45′ GOAL FOR INTER! Crisis over? Well, they will at least go in level. Lautaro slammed the ball home with the outside of his right boot after Calhanoglu pulled the ball back from the left by-line.

64′ GOAL FOR INTER! It was coming. Another period of pinball in the Empoli box led to the ball being hit in the direction of Lautaro and he lashed home a low effort which even Vicario didn’t have a chance to stop.

90+2′ OFF THE POST! A fine run from Dzeko skipping past a diving challenge before hitting a shot which had Vicario beaten but came back off the post.

90+4′ GOAL FOR INTER! Finally Inter get a fourth and it is from Sanchez who was all alone at the far post after Dzeko pulled the ball across from the left-hand side of the six-yard box.

KEY STAT

Serie A

Inter suffer title blow as Arnautovic and Sansone seal Bologna win

27/04/2022 AT 17:21

Serie A

Empoli score three late goals in seven minutes to stun Napoli

24/04/2022 AT 12:04