Empoli and Lecce Set
Two sides struggling for form in Italy’s top flight prepare to meet on Monday evening as Empoli host Lecce at the Stadio Carlo Castellani in Serie A action.
Neither team has tasted victory in their last few games, with Empoli winless in two league matches and Lecce on a 10-game winless streak across all competitions. With both clubs languishing in the bottom half of the table, there is an air of desperation around securing all three points from this fixture.
Empoli Eager to Snap Run of Poor Home Form
For the home team Empoli, momentum has stalled after a promising start to the campaign. They have picked up just one win from their last eight Serie A encounters on home soil, often struggling to find the back of the net.
In fact, Empoli possess the worst goalscoring record in the Italian top tier this term, netting only nine times in 14 matches. This lack of firepower has directly contributed to their lowly position of 17th place with 11 points accrued.
In their most recent fixture at the Stadio Carlo Castellani last weekend, Empoli were held to a 1-1 draw against Genoa. Ruslan Malinovskyi’s 37th minute opener was canceled out by Matteo Cancellieri’s second half equalizer, leaving the hosts with a solitary point.
Manager Aurelio Andreazzoli will be hoping for an improved attacking display from his players as they seek just a second home success this campaign. Injuries continue to hamper Andreazzoli’s selections, with defenders Giuseppe Pezzella and Gabriele Guarino ruled out, while creative midfielder Tommaso Baldanzi faces a race to be fit.
Lecce Desperate to Halt Winless Away Run
The visitors Lecce meanwhile have endured an even more dismal run of form, winless in 10 matches across all tournaments. Their previous result saw them grab a last-gasp 1-1 draw at home to Bologna courtesy of Roberto Piccoli’s injury time penalty.
That point did little to lift Lecce from 13th spot in the standings, where they sit precariously on 16 points. Crucially, the southern outfit have been unable to collect maximum points on their travels this term, drawing four and losing two of six Serie A away days.
In total, Lecce have triumphed just once in their previous 13 matches outside of their home stadium. Manager Marco Baroni will hope this damning statistic can be remedied with a positive display against Empoli.
Like their opponents however, Lecce have concerns over fitness and availability. Pontus Almqvist and Ahmed Touba face late checks on their condition, while striker Mohamed Kaba remains a doubt. Baroni may have to shuffle his pack as a result.
Sides Well Acquainted But Empoli Dominant in Recent Years
Monday’s clash will represent the 26th meeting between these two clubs, with eight of those showdowns coming in Italy’s top tier competition. Empoli boast the superior historical record, having won eight times to Lecce’s six, with five draws rounding out previous encounters.
More pertinent is Empoli’s recent dominance over their southern foes. The Tuscany outfit are undefeated in five straight clashes with Lecce across tournaments, winning one and drawing four.
That spell includes home and away triumphs over Lecce in the 2021/22 Serie B campaign as Empoli achieved promotion back to the Italian top flight. On their own patch, Empoli have lost just once to Lecce, a Coppa Italia defeat in 1990.
With Andreazzoli’s men in better form against their Monday opponents, and holding home advantage, they may feel quietly confident of securing a vital victory to lift them from the drop zone.
All the Ingredients for a Tight, Tense Encounter
Considering the mediocre form of both teams coming into this fixture, a cagey and low-scoring affair looks the most likely outcome.
Empoli’s well-documented scoring issues, coupled with Lecce’s poor away record, points towards a match settled by fine margins either way. There is an onus on Empoli’s attack to come alive on home soil, but Lecce will likely set up to contain and hit their opponents on the counter.
Prediction: Empoli 1-1 Lecce
The stats lean towards a share of the spoils in a tense, bitty contest. Neither defense has convinced this term, but matching problems going forward suggest chances could be at a premium. Set pieces or a moment of individual brilliance may decide what looks like a potential deadlock.
Betting Tips
With the context surrounding this game in mind, here are some of the best bets to consider on Monday’s Serie A matchup:
Tip 1: Result – Draw @ 2/1 Tip 2: Goals – Under 2.5 goals @ 4/5
Tip 3: At least one goal to be scored in the second half – Yes @ 4/5 Tip 4: Lameck Banda to score or assist any time @ 7/2
A low scoring stalemate looks the smart selection based on current form and the capability of both attacks. Additionally, Empoli’s leading scorer Lameck Banda finding the net would boost his side’s hopes of a vital victory against the struggling visitors.
