Empoli vs Roma

Mid-table Empoli play host to an out-of-sorts Roma at the Stadio Carlo Castellani for an intriguing Serie A encounter.

Empoli go into proceedings in the midst of a rough patch, having alternated between draws and losses across their last five Serie A outings (D3, L2), all of which saw both teams find the net. It will be up to head coach Aurelio Andreazzoli to improve his side’s slow starts after the Tuscan outfit conceded the opening goal in a league joint-high nine of their 11 Serie A home fixtures this term. But despite their recent form wobble, ‘Gli Azzurri’ have been fun to watch, especially at Carlo Castellani, where their last five league games have seen over 3.5 goals and both sides scoring. Delivering action from the get-go, seven (64%) of Empoli’s 11 Serie A home matches this season have featured at least one goal inside the opening 15 minutes.

As for Roma, a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Serie B side Lecce in midweek Coppa Italia action served to build on last weekend’s 1-0 home victory over relegation-threatened Cagliari. After putting a run of three Serie A matches without winning firmly behind (D1, L2), ‘I Giallorossi’ will pursue back-to-back league wins for the first time since mid-December. However, a lack of consistency has seen Roma alternate between victories and defeats in their last six Serie A away games (W3, L3), five of which saw the side to open the scoring go on to pick up the points. Speaking of the visitors’ away struggle, their tally of 16 defeats from 29 Serie A travels since the start of the 2020/21 season is second only to Spezia (17). Interestingly, Jose Mourinho’s men have yet to draw a league game on the road this season (W4, L6).