Prediction: Empoli vs Lecce

Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw

Best Odds: 9/2

Bookmaker: Betfair

Empoli and Lecce will face each other in Serie A next week. The match between Paolo Zanetti’s side and Marco Baroni’s team will be held at Stadio Carlo Castellani and is scheduled to kick off at 5:30pm UK time next Monday.

Empoli

Empoli are an established club in Serie A who tend to finish in mid-table. No one expects Gli Azzurri to challenge for the top four or the European places in the league table, and they are unlikely to get relegated to Serie B at the end of the season. Empoli finished 14th in the Serie A table last season, and it is very likely that they will end up in a similar position in the standings this time around.

Paolo Zanetti’s side are 14th in the Serie A table at the moment with 28 points from 27 matches. Empoli are as many as nine points above the relegation zone. However, they are in a bad run of form at the moment. Empoli have lost their last four Serie A matches.

Empoli will head into the Serie A match against Lecce away from home next week on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Atalanta on the road in Serie A. It came after a 1-0 loss at the hands of Udinese at home in the league and followed a 2-1 defeat to Monza on the road in Serie A.

Team News:

Empoli are likely to line up in a 4-3-1-2 formation. Perisan will be in goal for the home team. De Winter and Luperto will be the two centre-backs, while Baldanzi will be the playmaker behind Satriano and Caputo in attack.

Lecce

Lecce are doing relatively well in Serie A for a club who won promotion from the second division of Italian football at the end of last season. I Giallorossi are expected by many to get relegated to Serie B at the moment, but they could defy the odds and retain their top-flight status for one season at least.

Marco Baroni’s side are 15th in the Serie A table at the moment with 27 points from 27 matches. Lecce are as many as eight points above the relegation zone. However, like Empoli, they are not having the best of times at the moment either. They have lost their last four Serie A games as well.

Lecce will head into the match against Empoli away from home in Serie A next week on the back of a 1-0 loss at the hands of Fiorentina on the road in Serie A. It came after a 2-0 defeat to Torino in front of their own fans in the league and followed a 2-0 loss to Inter Milan away from home at San Siro in Serie A.

Team News:

Lecce are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. Falcone will be in the goal for the visiting team. Gendrey, Baschirotto, Umtiti and Gallo will be the four defenders. Colombo will be the centre-forward in a three-man attack and will have Gabriel Strefezza and Di Francesco on other flank.

Key Factors to Consider

• Empoli have scored 24 goals in 27 Serie A matches so far this season.
• Empoli have conceded 36 goals in 27 Serie A matches so far this season.
• Lecce have scored 24 goals in 27 Serie A games so far this campaign.
• Lecce have conceded 32 goals in 27 Serie A games so far this campaign.
• Lecce have lost their last 4 Serie A games.

Conclusion

Empoli and Lecce are in similar positions in the Serie A table at the moment. It is likely that the two teams will cancel each other out. A draw in this particular game is the most likely outcome.

Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw

Best Odds: 9/2

Bookmaker: Betfair