Empoli vs Fiorentina – predictions, team news, line-ups

Flying high near the top of the Serie A table, Empoli face Tuscan rivals Florentines Sunday evening, with the aim of extending their undefeated start to the season.

The Azzurri are entering this season’s first Derby dell’Arno after back-to-back league and cup victories, while the Viola finally recorded their first victory last weekend.

Match Preview

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With two wins and three draws from their first five league matches, Empoli have reached this stage of a Serie A season unbeaten for the first time in their history – and they head into the weekend having also extended their stay in Coppa Italia.

Two of those draws came against Bologna and Juventus – both of whom qualified for the Champions League last season – and the Azzurri also beat Roma in the capital; last week, Cagliari was conquered in Sardinia.

Lorenzo Colombo opened the scoring ahead of another loan striker Sebastien Esposito finally ended their long goal drought in the first division to seal a 2-0 victory which took Empoli to an impressive tally of nine points.

But their exploits do not stop there, because Roberto D’Aversa took his in-form team to Turin midweek, where they met another undefeated team, Torino.

The visitors ultimately emerged victorious in a tight cup match on Tuesday evening, with Nicolas Haas scoring a late winning goal that set up a round of 16 clash against none other than Fiorentina.

Sunday’s match will mark only the third time Empoli have faced the Viola in Serie A with more points on the clock than their regional rivals, and fans will be hoping their dream start does not end abruptly in the derby.

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Having won just one of their last six Serie A away matches against Empoli – and none since November 2016 – Fiorentina are under no illusions about the task that awaits them at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.

As well as making it through to the Conference League qualifiers last month, the Viola had picked up just three points heading into last week’s game against Lazio, having failed to win any of their first four Serie matches For the first time in five years.

New boss Raffaele Palladino was then grateful to have signed this summer Albert Gudmundsson were back in form, as the Icelandic striker calmly converted two penalties – the last during second-half stoppage time – to secure a 2-1 success.

Sitting 13th in the table after five rounds, Fiorentina now aim to maintain that momentum by beating Empoli, ahead of next week’s Conference League opener against Welsh underdogs The New Saints.

La Viola started their Serie A campaign with a draw and an away defeat, and Palladino will want to avoid failing to win one of their opening three – that would make him the first Fiorentina manager to do so Since. Vincenzo Montella about 12 years ago.

Forms Empoli Serie A:

Empoli form (all competitions):

Forms of Fiorentina Serie A:

Fiorentina form (all competitions):

Team News

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While Empoli boss Roberto D’Aversa is still absent Samuel Software, Szymon Zurkowski et Tyronne EbuehiJacopo Fazzini and former Fiorentina midfielder Youssef Maleh are both hoping to recover enough to take a place on the bench.

After Pietro Pellegri Offered a start against parent club Turin in midweek, Inter Milan-owned Sebastiano Esposito and Lorenzo Colombo, on loan from AC Milan, are expected to resume their partnership from the start.

The hosts will field three familiar backs, with Ardian Ismajli having recorded the most clearances of any Serie A player so far this season (51) and fellow defender Mattia Viti ranking first in tackles gained (15).

Meanwhile, Raffaele Palladino’s main fitness concerns lie at center back. Marin Pongracic (thigh) and midfielder Rolando Mandragora (flexor), who both still have a chance to get involved at the Stadio Castellani.

After making a major impact from the bench last week – having finally overcome a calf injury which spoiled his start to life in Florence – Albert Gudmundsson could make his first start, supporting Moise Kean in the Fiorentina attack.

Kean has scored three times in five league matches against Empoli to date, and the Italian striker has also found the net twice in his last three appearances in the top flight – as many times as in the previous 36 .

Empoli possible starting composition:
Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti ; Gaz, Henderson, Grassi, Pezzella; Anjorin, Esposito; Columbus

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
De Gea ; Martínez Quarta, Comuzzo, Biraghi; Dodo, Cataldi, Bové, Gosens; Colpani, Gudmundsson; Kean

We say: Empoli 1-2 Fiorentina

Empoli have defied the odds to remain undefeated so far, and they should certainly pose some problems for Fiorentina in the Derby dell’Arno.

However, La Viola can spoil their rivals Azzurri’s party by snatching maximum points, having gained confidence following their victory last week.

For data analysis of most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.

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