In a tightly contested Serie A match, Empoli and Udinese battled to a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Carlo Castellani. The encounter saw Empoli take the lead in the first half through Pietro Pellegri, only for Udinese to equalize late in the game thanks to Keinan Davis.
Empoli started strong, with Pellegri scoring the opening goal just before the half-hour mark. The young forward executed a well-placed shot from outside the box, sending a low drive past Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye into the corner of the net. This goal marked a significant moment for Pellegri, who had been looking to make an impact after recent struggles.
The home side maintained their lead until the 75th minute, showcasing resilience as they aimed for their third consecutive positive result. However, Udinese found their equalizer when Davis capitalized on a corner taken by Lazar Samardzic. Rising above the Empoli defense, Davis headed the ball into the net, preventing Udinese from suffering their fourth consecutive defeat.
This draw was crucial for Udinese, who had not tasted victory since October 25 against Cagliari. The point allows them to break a month-long winless streak and provides a much-needed boost as they look to climb away from the relegation zone.
Both teams now find themselves in a precarious position in the league standings. While Empoli remain just above the drop zone, they will be eager to build on this performance and continue their upward trajectory. For Udinese, this point may serve as a turning point as they seek to regain their form and push for better results in upcoming fixtures.
Goals: 23′ Pellegri (E), 75′ Davis (U)
Empoli (3-4-2-1): Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Maleh, Henderson (82′ Ekong), Cacace, Pezzella (65′ Anjorin); Pellegri (73′ Esposito), Colombo (65′ Solbakken).
Udinese (3-5-2): Okoye; Giannetti (46′ Lucca), Bijol, Tourè; Ehizibue, Lovric (80′ Atta), Karlstrom, Zarraga (62′ Ekkelenkamp), Kamara (46′ Zemura); Thauvin (87′ Brenner), Davis.
