Empoli vs Fiorentina Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Italian Serie A
THE FACTS
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
When is Empoli vs Fiorentina on and what time does it start? Empoli vs Fiorentina will take place on Sunday 18th February, 2024 – 14:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Empoli vs Fiorentina? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Empoli vs Fiorentina on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Serie A matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Empoli vs Fiorentina
Where can I stream Empoli vs Fiorentina in the UK? If Empoli vs Fiorentina is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
EMPOLI
Empoli returned to their former manager Aurelio Andreazzoli earlier on this season, replacing Paolo Zanetti, but Andreazzoli was then himself sacked last month with the Florence-based club appearing destined for relegation with Davide Nicola, who has overseen miraculous escapes at both Crotone and Salernitana, coming in to try and do it a third time.
Davide Nicola’s appointment has almost comically led to an immediate improvement in their performances and results. They come into this one on the back of a 3-1 defeat of bottom-of-the-table Salernitana away from home last weekend, which followed draws against Juventus and Genoa, after hammering Monza by three goals to nil in Nicola’s first game in mid-January.
FIORENTINA
Reaching the final of both the UEFA Europa Conference League and the Coppa Italia last season was always going to be difficult to live up to for Fiorentina and Vincenzo Italiano this season but I Viola had appeared that they were going on the right track as they compete for a top four spot. However, it has been a horrible start to the calendar year.
That horrible start continued in midweek as they suffered a 2-0 defeat away to fellow top four chasing Bologna in their most recent outing, last weekend. That was their third defeat in four Serie A matches and Fiorentina have now managed just one win in their last eight matches across all competitions inside 90 minutes.
THE TEAM NEWS
EMPOLI
Tyronne Ebuehi is missing through injury for Empoli this weekend, whilst the likes of Francesco Caputo and Gaetano Guarino are doubts, too.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Caprile; Bereszynski, Ismajli, Luperto; Gyasi, Grassi, Maleh, Cacace; Zurkowski, Cambiaghi; Cerri
UNAVAILABLE: Ebuehi (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Caputo (Injured), Guarino (Injured)
FIORENTINA
Fiorentina have two injury concerns for the derby this weekend as Gaetano Castrovilli is unavailable, whilst goalkeeper Oliver Christensen is also missing.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Terracciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Martinez Quarta, Biraghi; Duncan, Mandragora; Ikone, Beltran, Gonzalez; Belotti
UNAVAILABLE: Christensen (Injured), Castrovilli (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
The Florence derby features two teams that are opposite ends of the table and also in contrasting form but not necessarily in the way that would be expected. Empoli are rising and rising fast with the results and effectiveness of Davide Nicola becoming almost scary at this stage when he takes over teams that are badly struggling. Fiorentina are struggling for a bit of consistency and are at risk of falling away from the top seven and, with their home advantage, a double chance bet in favour of the home team would appear a good bet.
TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE – EMPOLI TO WIN OR DRAW
