Empoli vs Torino Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Roberto D’Aversa’s Empoli have started the season steadily with a lot of draws in their opening 14 matches as a fading Torino now make the relatively short trip to Florence this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Friday 13th December, 2024: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
How to watch online: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
Empoli Preview: Difficult to beat
Over the summer, Roberto D’Aversa came into Empoli after they had narrowly escaped the drop on the final day of last season following three permanent coaches across the campaign. They have been steady at the start of the season with four wins, seven draws and four defeats.
The Florence-based club come into this one on the back of a much-needed annihilation of Hellas Verona in their most recent outing last week thanks to goals from Liberato Cacace and Lorenzo Colombo as well as a brace scored by Sebastiano Esposito.
Torino Preview: Struggling Torino
Torino wanted to try and become more efficient and effective with a more attacking style of football over the summer with a disciple of Antonio Conte, Paolo Vanoli, coming in at Torino and they had started the season very well before badly fading in the last few months.
Vanoli is under pressure at the moment as they come into this one on the back of a goalless draw with Patrick Vieira’s Genoa in their most recent outing last weekend. The visitors are winless in six and have managed just one win in their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Empoli Team News: Several injuries
Empoli have been dealing with long-term injury issues throughout the campaign, such as both Tyronne Ebuehi and Saba Sazonov. They are also missing key midfielder Szymon Zurkowski as well as Nicolas Haas and Jacopo Fazzini.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Devis Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Anjorin, Maleh, Pezzella; Esposito, Cacace; Pellegri
Unavailable: Ebuehi (Injured), Sazonov (Injured), Fazzini (Injured), Zurkowski (Injured), Haas (Injured)
Questionable:
Torino Team News: Frustration in attack
Torino’s strong start to the season was down in large part to the impressive partnership formed between Che Adams and Duvan Zapata but the latter is unavailable due to an ACL injury. He is sidelined alongside both Perr Schuurs and Ivan Ilic, too.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Milinkovic-Savic; Walukiewicz, Saul Coco, Masina; Pedersen, Ricci, Linetty, Gineitis, Vojvoda; Adams, Tonny Sanabria
Unavailable: Schuurs (Injured), Ilic (Injured), Duvan Zapata (Injured)
Questionable:
Empoli vs Torino Prediction
In their opening 15 games of the campaign, Empoli have scored just 14 goals with the liited style of play put in place by D’Aversa. Four of those 14 goals came in their last game in that hammering of Verona. Torino had started with more efficiency in attack but they have now gone seven matches without scoring more than a solitary goal. Given the respective records of the two sides, under 2.5 goals seems very likely for this one in Florence.
Empoli vs Torino Tip: Under 2.5 goals
