Fiorentina vs Empoli Preview: Team News & Prediction
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We have the Florence derby taking place at the Artemio Franchi this weekend as European chasing Fiorentina take on their city rivals and relegation-battling Empoli on Sunday.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 27th April, 2025: UK – 2:00pm / US ET – 9:00am / US PT – 6:00am
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+
Fiorentina Preview: Fierce Fiorentina
In each of the last two seasons, Fiorentina have been runners’ up in the UEFA Europa Conference League and I Viola have moved themselves into the semi-finals of this season’s competition, too, where they face Real Betis in the first-leg during the midweek.
In Serie A, they have overcome a fairly long mid-season wobble to move back into contention for a top four finish and potential UEFA Champions League qualification. They came from behind to defeat struggling Cagliari by two goals to one in Sardinia in midweek.
Empoli Preview: Struggling Empoli
Coached by former Benevento and Lecce boss Roberto D’Aversa, Empoli began this season quite well but they have almost entirely collapsed into danger as they begin the 34th match day of the 2024/25 campaign sitting in the bottom three and the relegation places.
They also come into this one on the back of completing a 5-1 aggregate loss to Bologna with a 2-1 defeat away from home at the Renato Dall’Ara in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia. They are now winless in their last 18 matches in Serie A.
Fiorentina Team News: Kean a doubt
Italy international striker Moise Kean remains a doubt for Fiorentins this weekend and he is one of two players who remain doubtful for Fiorentina alongside Andrea Colpani. Edoardo Bove remains unavailable after suffering a cardiac arrest in December.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): David de Gea; Pongracic, Pablo Mari, Ranieri; Dodo, Mandragora, Cataldi, Fagioli, Gosens; Gudmundsson, Beltran
Unavailable: Bove (Illness)
Questionable: Colpani (Injured), Kean (Injured)
Empoli Team News: Cacace suspended
New Zealand international Liberato Cacace is now missing through suspension for this one ahead of the Florence derby. They also have several injury absentees such as Youssef Maleh, Szymon Zurkowski and Pietro Pellegri.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Silvestri; De Sciglio, Marianucci, Goglichidze; Ebuehi, Sambia, Henderson, Kovalenko, Gyasi; Colombo, Solbakken
Unavailable: Sazonov (Injured), Maleh (Injured), Haas (Injured), Zurkowski (Injured), Cacace (Suspended), Kouame (Injured), Pellegri (Injured)
Questionable: Ismajli (Injured)
Fiorentina vs Empoli Prediction
Fiorentina have flipped between brilliance and catastrophe throughout this campaign but, in his first season, it has been an impressive one under the management of former Monza boss Raffaele Palladino. They face an Empoli side that started really well but if not for that start they would have been relegated a couple of weeks ago. Fiorentina are expected to win this one quite comfortably, especially at the Artemio Franchi.
Fiorentina vs Empoli Tip: Fiorentina to win -1 handicap
