Preview: Lecce vs Empoli – Prediction, Team News, Lineups

Last placed Lecce will aim to come off the foot Series A on Friday when they welcome Empoli to the Stadio Via del Mare.

The Salentini have only won twice this season, scoring just four goals; In contrast, their Tuscan counterparts occupy a mid-table position due to a good defensive record.

Game preview

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Before last week’s victory over Hellas Verona, Lecce had already achieved success in August and they had gone more than 400 minutes without a goal before finally scoring.

Luca GottiEngland’s men also rarely kept a clean sheet, having just endured a bitter run of four consecutive defeats and the loss of eleven goals; However, there was even more frustration for the fans of the Salento team on Saturday.

A late goal in Bologna cost them a point, sending them into last place the Serie A table on the goal difference.

Including the end of last season, Lecce have scored just four goals in their last 14 league games, failing to score 11 times. They also conceded an average of 1.7 goals per game during this time, resulting in a terrible record.

If the Giallorossi can beat Empoli, they would finally win two home games in a row for the first time since September 2023, demonstrating the full extent of their problems.

Nonetheless, Gotti, who led Lecce to safety in 21 Serie A games as Lecce coach, still averages a point per game; his predecessor Roberto D’Aversa, meanwhile, recorded an average of 0.89.

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D’Aversa returns to Via del Mare eight months after being sacked for violent behavior at the end of a game against Verona, but the current Empoli coach will believe he has since redeemed himself by putting together a solid team in Tuscany .

His side’s defensive discipline has helped them stay just outside the top half of the table, keeping clean sheets in five of their 11 league games so far this season.

Not only does this record equal the club’s best tally at this point in a season in the top flight, but only Juventus and Napoli have achieved more – reigning champions Inter Milan and local rivals Fiorentina also have five.

Although it was clearly a collective effort, former Nice centre-back Mattia Viti has made more tackles (21) than anyone else in Serie A this season.

Empoli’s goals against column still stands at nine after Monday’s 1-0 win over Como, and the last time they conceded so few goals at this point was in 2006, when they finished seventh finished – although D’Aversa would certainly be content to avoid another relegation battle.

Since last season, the Azzurri have lost just one of their last seven away games – including a Coppa Italia win against Torino – scoring a goal each time. Therefore, they have every reason to be confident before setting off for Lecce.

Lecce Serie A form:

Form of Empoli Serie A:

Team news

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Lecce is again without the services of Medon Berisha, Kevin Bonifazi, Rare Burnete And Filip Marchwinski due to an injury while French midfielder Balthasar Pierret is a big doubt due to a muscle problem.

Despite his team’s lack of goals, Luca Gotti should stick to his preferred attacking trident, with Lameck Banda and Danish winger Patrick Dorgu – a reported target for several Premier League clubs – on both flanks.

Banda’s last goal in Serie A came against Empoli in December 2023, while Dorgu and the Montenegrin striker were playing Nikola Krstovic Both have scored two goals in the league this season, which makes up the entire Salentini record.

Meanwhile, Empoli can welcome back the Georgian defender Saba Goglichidzewho served a suspension against Como, but Roberto D’Aversa will still be missing several players.

Szymon Zurkowski, Samuele Perisan, Tyronne Ebuehi, Saba Sazonov, Sebastiano Esposito And Jacopo Fazzini are all ruled out – the latter sustained an injury in training before Monday’s game.

Once again, Pietro Pellegri and former Lecce loan player Lorenzo Colombo will vie to lead the starting lineup; Pellegri’s winning goal in the last game could give him the advantage.

Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Guilbert, Gaspar, Bashirotto, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani, Rafia; Dorgu, Krstovic, Banda

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vasquez; Viti, Ismajli, Goglichidze; Gyasi, Maleh, Henderson, Anjorin, Pezzella; Solbakken; Colombo

We say: Lecce 1:1 Empoli

Lecce’s only defeat in their five previous top-flight home games against Empoli came in 2006 and they should continue that trend on Friday night – assuming they can capitalize on their chances.

While the Azzurri’s defense has remained steadfast this season, they may be tempted to push forward against struggling opponents and their hosts have the potential to counter-attack.

For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this game, please click here.

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