Serie A match prediction: Little separates Empoli and Sassuolo in quality

There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.

Empoli form and stats

Empoli's struggle is real here at Stadio Carlo Castellani with only 10 points collected from 10 Serie A games. The win-draw-lost numbers are ugly: 3-1-6.

Empoli manager Andreazzoli and his team return home after a 3-3 draw away versus Lazio (placed 8th) in the Serie A. Opportunity lost for Empoli in the Lazio match as a lead 2-0 was lost and what looked like a victory ended in a draw. As you can tell by the result above, the goals flowed freely in the previous game and the stadium rocked. Could there be another goal fest today? The Empoli goalkeeper Vicario was crucial in the match against Lazio last time out, making six saves. The striker Francesco outperformed all others in that fixture and was awarded a match rating of 8.04 out of 10. Francesco scored one goal, hit one key pass and dribled past the opponent 1 of 1 times.

Preceding that match was a defeat to Milan (2-4).

This is expected to be a close game, with Empoli perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Empoli as a small favourite), we find seven games. Empoli has won five of these, drawn one and lost one.

Empoli have proved capable of finding the net in their games here at Stadio Carlo Castellani with 16 goals in 10 league matches. Empoli are struggling defensively, conceding on average more than two goals per home game (24 from 10 played).

Sassuolo form and stats

3 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses. That’s the product of Sassuolo playing as the away team in the Serie A this season. Visiting Sassuolo has seen their last two away games both end with a tied score and one point each.

There were no winners in Sassuolo's previous match, a Serie A home game that ended 1-1 vs Genoa (placed 19th). Berardi got a match rating of 8.4 in that game, top player of the team. Berardi scored one goal, hit five key passes and dribled past the opponent 2 of 4 times.

The game before that, was lost at home, a 0-3 defeat against Bologna.

So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Sassuolo playing away and similar expectations, we found nine relevant matches. Results were five Sassuolo wins, two draws and two defeats.

Sassuolo have scored more than twice on average per away game (in the league), an impressive attacking display. They have 18 goals from 9 away matches. Sassuolo have conceded 17 goals in these games.

Head 2 Head

Here's the end result when the participants met previously this campaign; Sassuolo - Empoli 1-2. Head-to-head totals (for the previous ten meetings): Empoli won four games, one match ended with a draw and Sassuolo got five wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: eight / two

Top Goalscorers

D. Berardi 9 goals

A. Pinamonti 7 goals

G. Scamacca 6 goals

Empoli missing players

Sassuolo missing players