Serie A Gameweek 32 closes out at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as title hopefuls Napoli tackle relegation-battling Empoli in a high-stakes conflict. Each side are in determined want of factors, albeit for contrasting causes.
Inter’s 3-1 home triumph against Udinese on Saturday intensified the stress on Napoli forward of this fixture. Antonio Conte’s facet can not afford additional slip-ups after final Monday’s 1-1 draw at Bologna noticed them squander one other alternative to shut the hole on the reigning champions.
With six factors separating Napoli from the Nerazzurri forward of the kick-off and solely six rounds left, it’s pointless to debate the significance of beating Empoli. Regardless of their tag as odds-on pre-match favorites, the Partenopei could be well-advised to not take their opponents with no consideration, particularly after current conferences in Naples.
Roberto D’Aversa’s males have received twice on their final three Serie A visits to this stadium (L1) and can goal for an additional upset as they bid to finish the membership’s joint-longest look forward to a top-flight win. Final weekend’s scoreless dwelling draw in opposition to Cagliari condemned Empoli to their sixteenth consecutive league outing and not using a win (D5, L11).
Because of this, they entered this spherical two factors adrift of security. Nevertheless, Lecce’s defeat at Juventus means Gli Azzurri can claw their manner out of the underside three in the event that they proceed to be a thorn in Napoli’s facet. Given their current showings, that might be simpler stated than performed.
Match Preview
Napoli
Napoli’s possibilities of clinching a second Scudetto in three years have considerably dwindled throughout the previous 9 rounds. Certainly, no crew throughout Europe’s conventional top-five leagues has drawn as many league matches in that sequence as Conte’s crew (W2, D6, L1), highlighting an ominous dip in kind.
Though unbeaten throughout their final 5 Serie A video games on dwelling turf (W3, D2), Napoli couldn’t hold a clear sheet in that interval, suggesting one other dramatic contest might be in retailer. Scoring first would solely partially ease the house trustworthy’s issues, understanding the Partenopei wasted the lead in 4 of their final six league stalemates.
In opposition to this backdrop, Napoli are but to concede in opposition to groups beginning this spherical within the backside 4. Even when Empoli buck that pattern and open the scoring someway, the hosts ought to nonetheless be assured of getting three factors over the road, having averaged a league-high 1.4 factors per sport when conceding first this season (W4, D2, L4).
Empoli
Eager to safe a fifth consecutive season in Italy’s prime flight, Empoli should stem the bleeding amid the worst patch within the membership’s Serie A historical past. Reaching that feat would require the guests to defy a infamous pattern of failing to beat any opposition beginning this spherical inside the highest six this season (D3, L7).
As if that’s not troubling sufficient, Empoli conceded an alarming 15 objectives throughout 5 defeats in opposition to Serie A’s present prime three, underscoring the dimensions of the duty awaiting them in Naples tonight. One other disappointing result’s a definite risk for D’Aversa, whose managerial document in opposition to Napoli can hardly encourage confidence (W2, L7).
Nevertheless, Empoli gave the Partenopei a run for his or her cash in December’s reverse fixture. Certainly, a controversial penalty transformed by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia halfway via the second half separated the groups on the closing whistle. Defensive solidity may once more be the important thing to Empoli’s hopes of upsetting the apple cart, as they’ve conceded a mean of 0.66 objectives per sport throughout their final three Serie A street journeys.
Crew Information
Napoli can not rely on star defender Alessandro Buongiorno and attacking-minded full-back Leonardo Spinazzola as a result of accidents. Furthermore, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Giovanni Di Lorenzo are unavailable for choice after accumulating yellow playing cards in opposition to Bologna. Lastly, this fixture could come too quickly for goalkeeper Alex Meret.
Alternatively, Empoli take this journey severely crippled by accidents, with Ardian Ismajli, Christian Kouame, Marco Silvestri, Nicolas Haas, Pietro Pellegri, Saba Sazonov, Szymon Zurkowski, and Youssef Maleh caught within the therapy room.
Napoli vs Empoli Potential Beginning Line-ups
Napoli (4-3-3): Scuffet; Mazzocchi, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Gilmour, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Neres.
Empoli (3-4-2-1): Vasquez; Goglichidze, Marianucci, Viti; Gyasi, Grassi, Henderson, Pezella; Esposito, Cacace; Colombo.
Napoli vs Empoli Prediction
Regardless of Empoli’s current heroics on this floor, Napoli ought to stroll to an all-important win and keep the stress on Inter.
Prediction: Napoli to Win
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