Preview: Fiorentina vs. Empoli – prediction, team news, lineups

Tuscan rivals Fiorentina and Empoli will vie for a place in the Italian Cup quarter-finals, as they meet in a last-16 tie on Wednesday evening.

Following a traumatic night for the Viola on Sunday, they return to action in the second Derby dell’Arno of the season, after a goalless draw between the clubs in September.

Match preview

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Fiorentina’s weekend fixture with Inter Milan was abandoned during the first half, as midfielder Edoardo Bove collapsed on the pitch and required emergency medical treatment, with an ambulance ultimately arriving to rush the 22-year-old to hospital.

Fortunately, Bove was soon breathing independently and then regained consciousness in intensive care, but the incident understandably left both teams shaken and they chose not to continue.

After seven league wins on the spin – the most recent being a 2-0 defeat of Como – Fiorentina had gone into the game level on points with Italy’s reigning champions, and within touching distance of the Serie A summit.

Last Thursday, the Viola picked up another three points in the Conference League, when Raffaele Palladino‘s much-changed team saw off Pafos, with a 3-2 win putting them in one of eight automatic qualifying spots for the last 16.

As a result of their European adventures, the two-time Conference League finalists have been given a bye to this stage of the Coppa Italia – a competition they also came close to winning in 2023, when they were beaten by Inter in the decider.

Now, with a quarter-final against either Juventus or Cagliari at stake, Fiorentina face their neighbours, who have proved difficult to beat in recent derbies.

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Empoli are undefeated in five meetings with their regional rivals dating back to mid-2022, drawing four times and winning the other encounter 2-0 at Stadio Franchi.

Indeed, on home turf, the Azzurri are without defeat against their old foes from Florence since November 2016, following a 0-0 stalemate between the two sides earlier this season.

However, they will head across Tuscany for the latest Derby dell’Arno after taking just one point from two league games since the last international break: a 1-1 home draw with Udinese, followed by Saturday’s 3-0 loss to AC Milan at San Siro.

The latter result was just a fourth defeat across all competitions for the side overseen by Roberto D’Aversaand they safely sit 10th in the table after narrowly avoiding relegation last term.

Having beaten Catanzaro in round one of the Coppa Italia, then conquered Torino in Turin with a 90th-minute goal, Empoli can now focus on defeating Fiorentina and reaching the quarter-finals.

Fiorentina form (all competitions):

Empoli Italian Cup form:

Empoli form (all competitions):

Team News

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It is likely that Fiorentina’s first XI will be rotated again, as Raffaele Palladino has selected almost entirely different teams in the Conference League and Serie A.

Therefore, Moise Kean and David de Gea could be among several players rested, while Icelandic striker Albert Gudmundsson may return to the lineup following several weeks on the sidelines, having been named on the bench at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Edoardo Bove was under sedation in intensive care following his collapse on Sunday evening, but he is now on the road to recovery, and neurological and cardiac damage have both been ruled out.

Empoli boss Roberto D’Aversa is still missing several men, as Szymon Zurkowski, Tyronne Ebuehi, Saba Sazonov and Jacopo Fazzini are all unavailable, and Matthias Of Shield remains a doubt.

Swiss midfielder Nicolas Haas – who scored the late winner against Torino in round two of the Coppa Italia – recently suffered a knee injury and could be out of action for several weeks.

Although D’Aversa may make some changes, in-form striker Pietro Pellegri might be retained up front, having recently scored three goals in four games – as many as throughout his past two injury-plagued campaigns.

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
Terracciano; Kayode, Comuzzo, Ranieri, Biraghi; Richardson, Mandragora; Ikone, Gudmundsson, Sottil; Kouame

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Hacksaws; Goglichidze, Marianucci, Viti; Sambia, Anjorin, Henderson, Cacace; Solbakken, Esposito; Pilgrims

We say: Fiorentina 1-0 Empoli

Aside from their comprehensive loss in Milan last time out, Empoli have been one of Serie A’s most durable sides this season, and they have a good recent record against Fiorentina.

The hosts should still edge through via a close-fought derby win, though, having proven their ability to progress in cup competitions over the past couple of years.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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