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Kick off: Saturday, 24.10.2015. @15:00
Venue: Stadio Carlo Castellani
Head to head record
Empoli vs Genoa 0-1 (Club friendly)
Empoli vs Genoa 1-1 (Serie A)
Empoli vs Genoa 2-0 (Coppa Italia)
Genoa vs Empoli 1-1 (Serie A)
Genoa vs Empoli 0-1 (Serie A)
Empoli vs Genoa prediction
Stadio Carlo Castellani will host the Serie A clash between Empoli and Genoa. The Azzurri aim to move away from the danger zone, but Saturday’s clash against the Rossoblu will be anything but a walk in the park for the hosts.
Slow start
Empoli finished the 2014/2015 Serie A campaign in 15th place in the standings, eight points clear of the relegation zone. The team’s main goal in the new season is to secure yet another top flight survival, but they did not make a flying start to the season. Marco Giampaolo’s men sit in 17th place in the standings after 8 rounds and they are eager to escape the danger zone. Empoli suffered a 3-1 loss to Roma at Stadio Olimpico, but they need to keep on picking up points from matches against bottom-table sides if they are to avoid the drop to the Serie B. The Azzurri defeated Sassuolo (1-0) in their last home fixture and that is surely giving the fans a reason for optimism ahead of Saturday’s match against Genoa. Experienced attacker Maccarone scored the winning goal for Empoli against Sassuolo and he is widely expected to lead the attack for the hosts against Genoa when the two teams take on each other at Stadio Carlo Castellani.
Coach Marco Giampaolo can’t count on the likes of Cosic, Croce and Mchedlidze. The trio misses the match through injury, while Saponara is sidelined through suspension. The Italian tactician is likely to stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation.
Fine form
Following a 1-0 win over Milan Genoa shared the spoils with Udinese at Stadio Communale Friuli. The Rossoblu returned to winning ways at the weekend, with the team recording a come-from-behind win (3-2) over Chievo at Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris. Gian Piero Gasperini’s men aim to climb to the top half of the table and they will surely go for a win in Saturday’s match against Empoli. However, the team’s away record is anything but impressive and you should know that Genoa have yet to record a win on the road in the 2015/2021 Serie A campaign. The Rossoblu have netted only one goal in four away fixtures this season and they are certainly eager to put an end to the negative trend. Leonadro Pavoletti found the net in a 3-2 win over Chievo and the 26-year-old attacker should be deployed up front as a lone striker.
Blerim Dzemaili was sent off against Chievo and he misses the trip to Empoli through suspension. Goran Pandev and Alssane Tambe are both sidelined with injury, whilst Cristian Ansaldi is a major doubt and he will be assessed on the match day.
Empoli vs Genoa betting tip
Empoli have been struggling in the new Serie A campaign, but seeing that Genoa are not regarded as good travelers, the Azzurri are surely capable of grabbing something from Saturday’s match against the Rossoblu. Gian Piero Gasperini’s men have scored just one goal on the road this season and considering that Marco Giampaolo’s men struggle in front of goal too, there is every chance we will see a low-scoring affair at Stadio Carlo Castellani on Saturday. In their last meeting in Empoli the two sides played out a 1-1 draw.
Tip: Under 2.5 goals
Odds: 1.69 (5/8) at 10Bet
