The Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence is set to host a captivating Coppa Italia round of 16 encounter as Fiorentina welcome their Tuscan rivals Empoli on Wednesday evening. This Derby dell’Arno promises to be an intriguing affair, with both sides eager to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of Italy’s premier cup competition.
Fiorentina enter this match in impressive form, having won seven consecutive Serie A fixtures before their recent match against Inter Milan was abandoned due to a medical emergency. The Viola have also been successful in their Conference League campaign, securing a 3-2 victory over Pafos in their last European outing.
Empoli, on the other hand, have had a mixed run of results lately. After a solid start to their Coppa Italia journey with wins over Catanzaro and Torino, they have struggled in recent league matches, managing only one point from their last two Serie A games.
The rivalry between these Tuscan clubs has been closely contested in recent years. Empoli boast an undefeated record against Fiorentina in their last five meetings, including four draws and a notable 2-0 victory at the Stadio Franchi. Their most recent encounter in September ended in a goalless draw, highlighting the competitive nature of this fixture
Fiorentina are expected to maintain their possession-based style, utilizing the width provided by their fullbacks and the creativity of their attacking midfielders. Their ability to control the tempo of the game and create chances from various positions on the pitch will be crucial.
Empoli, under Roberto D’Aversa, have shown resilience and tactical flexibility this season. They may adopt a more defensive approach away from home, looking to exploit counter-attacking opportunities and set-pieces to trouble the Fiorentina defense.
The midfield duel will be pivotal in determining the outcome of this match. Fiorentina’s control and creativity in this area, potentially led by players like Mandragora and Richardson, will be challenged by Empoli’s industrious midfield, possibly featuring Henderson and Anjorin.
Team News
Fiorentina manager Raffaele Palladino is expected to rotate his squad, considering their busy schedule across multiple competitions. Key players like Moise Kean and David de Gea might be rested, while Icelandic striker Albert Gudmundsson could make a return to the starting lineup after recovering from injury.
Empoli face several injury concerns, with Szymon Zurkowski, Tyronne Ebuehi, Saba Sazonov, and Jacopo Fazzini all unavailable. Nicolas Haas is also sidelined with a knee injury. Despite these setbacks, in-form striker Pietro Pellegri is likely to lead the attack, having scored three goals in his last four appearances.
Expected Starting XIs
Fiorentina: Terracciano; Kayode, Comuzzo, Martinez Quarta, Biraghi; Richardson, Mandragora; Ikone, Gudmundsson, Sottil; Kouame
Empoli: Perisan; Goglichidze, Marianucci, Viti; Sambia, Anjorin, Henderson, Cacace; Solbakken, Esposito; Pellegri
Match Prediction
While Empoli have proven to be a tough nut to crack for Fiorentina in recent encounters, the home side’s current form and depth of squad give them a slight edge. The Viola’s experience in cup competitions over the past couple of seasons could prove decisive in what is expected to be a closely contested match.
Prediction: Fiorentina 1-0 Empoli
