Empoli and Como will look to bounce back from disappointing results when they face off in Serie A on Monday evening at the Stadio Carlo Castellani. Both sides are separated by just two points in the lower half of the table and will be desperate for a positive result to climb away from the relegation zone.
Empoli have struggled for consistency this season, currently sitting in 12th place with 11 points from 10 matches. Roberto D’Aversa’s side have won just two games so far, drawing five and losing three. Their home form has been particularly concerning, failing to score in all five matches at the Castellani this campaign.
Empoli come into this game on the back of a 3-0 home defeat to league leaders Inter Milan. That loss extended their winless run to four matches, having drawn with Parma and lost to Napoli and Lazio in recent weeks. D’Aversa will be desperate for his side to end their goal drought on home soil against Como.
Como have found life tough since gaining promotion to Serie A for the first time in over 20 years. Cesc Fabregas’ team sit 15th in the table with 9 points, having won two, drawn three, and lost five of their opening 10 fixtures. They were thrashed 5-1 at home by Lazio in midweek, a result which ended a four-match unbeaten run.
Away from home, Como have struggled for goals this season, scoring just five times in six matches on the road. However, they did pick up an impressive 3-2 win at Hellas Verona in September, showing they are capable of causing problems for teams higher up the table.
Lorenzo Colombo will be key for Empoli as they look to end their goal drought at home. The striker has two goals so far this season but hasn’t found the net since early September. His hold-up play and ability to bring others into the game will be crucial.
For Como, Gabriel Strefezza is the danger man. The Brazilian winger has two goals and two assists to his name already and possesses the creativity to unlock Empoli’s defense. His battle with Empoli left-back Giuseppe Pezzella could be pivotal.
This will be the first Serie A meeting between Empoli and Como since February 2003, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Empoli are winless in their last five home league games, failing to score in any of them (D2 L3). Como have conceded 21 goals in 10 Serie A matches this season, which is the second-worst defensive record in the division. Empoli have drawn five of their ten league games so far—no team has drawn more in Serie A this season—while Como have scored just five goals in six away league matches this campaign.
Team News
Empoli will be without suspended defender Saba Goglichidze after he was sent off against Inter last time out. Giuseppe Pezzella is likely to come into the back three as a result. The hosts also have injury concerns over Samuele Perisan, Saba Sazonov, and Sebastiano Esposito.
Como midfielder Matthias Braunöder is suspended after his red card against Lazio. Ignace Van der Brempt, Máximo Perrone, and Sergi Roberto remain sidelined through injury for the visitors.
Expected Starting XIs
Empoli: Vasquez; Viti, Ismajli, De Sciglio; Gyasi, Henderson, Maleh, Anjorin, Pezzella; Fazzini; Colombo
Como: Audero; Goldaniga, Dossena, Kempf, Moreno; Mazzitelli, Perrone; Strefezza, Paz, Fadera; Cutrone
Match Prediction
Given Empoli’s struggles in front of goal at home and Como’s defensive frailties, this match has the makings of a cagey affair. The hosts will be desperate to end their scoring drought but may lack confidence, while Como will look to keep things tight and hit on the counter.
A low-scoring draw seems the most likely outcome, with both sides potentially settling for a point to stop their recent poor runs. Empoli may just edge it if they can find their shooting boots, but Como have enough quality to cause problems on the break.
Prediction: Empoli 1-1 Como
