Empoli and Como face off in Monday's gameweek 11 Serie A match-up at Stadio Carlo Castellani, keen to move on from a wretched October.
Both sides notched one point from four games last month, joint-worst in the Italian top flight, and they hope for improved fortunes.
Match preview
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Roberto D'Aversa had an admirable start to the 2024-25 season after replacing Davide Nicola, but Empoli's results in October have dampened the mood in Florence.
The Azzurri avoided losing in their opening six games, albeit after playing out four draws, but they have been beaten in three of their recent four.
D'Aversa will point to those losses coming against Lazio (2-1), Napoli (1-0) and Inter Milan (3-0), clubs that are undoubtedly superior to Azzurri Empolesi; thus, supporters at the Castellani will welcome facing Como on Monday, hoping to secure a positive outcome after a series of recent disappointments.
However, the home team's run without scoring on their turf is worrying, having fired blanks in five straight games — scoreless matches against Monza, Juventus and Fiorentina before losses to Napoli and Inter.
Although it remains to be seen if the 12th-placed club end the drought in front of their supporters, Empoli should take confidence from Como's inability to keep clean sheets since regaining promotion.
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Cesc Fabregas's 15th-placed team have conceded 21 times in 10 games — only Hellas Verona in 14th have a worse record (22) — although five came at the end of October in the 5-1 home defeat by Lazio.
Regardless, the promoted club conceding three against Juventus (3-0) and Napoli (3-1) and two against Bologna (2-2), Atalanta BC (3-2) and Hellas Verona (3-2) highlight their defensive vulnerability.
The Lariani enter the 11th round without a win since notching consecutive victories over La Dea and Verona to close out September and hope to capitalise on Empoli's seeming tentativeness at the Castellani.
Monday's match marks Como's first visit to their hosts since 2003, a scoreless draw in February of the same year, and a repeat could be possible owing to the home side's ongoing drought on home soil.
Given their overall paucity of Serie A victories against Empoli — one win in six — the travelling supporters could be forgiven for any fatalism before the trip to the Castellani.
Team News
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Saba Goglichidze was dismissed on the half-hour mark against Inter on October 30, ruling out the defender for Monday's encounter.
D'Aversa could be without as many as five players due to injury: Szymon Zurkowski, Samuele Perisan, Tyronne Ebuehi, Saba Sazonov and Sebastiano Esposito.
Although Emmanuel Gyasi and Lorenzo Colombo have netted two each this term, the former has not scored since August, while Colombo's drought has lasted over a month.
Matthias Braunoder is suspended for Como after his sending-off (two yellows) against Lazio last time out.
Even though Fabregas does not have as many injury worries as D'Aversa, the Spaniard will be without the services of Sergi Roberto and Ignace Van der Brempt.
Gabriel Strefezza has netted two of Como's five road goals, and the wide attacker aims to add to that tally on Monday.
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vasquez; Viti, Ismajli, De Sciglio; Gyasi, Henderson, Maleh, Anjorin, Pezzella; Fazzini; Colombo
Como possible starting lineup:
Audero; Goldaniga, Dossena, Kempf, Moreno; Mazzitelli, Perrone; Strefezza, Paz, Fadera; Cutrone
We say: Empoli 1-1 Como
Despite Empoli's wretched form in front of goal at the Castellani this term, we expect a marginally more attacking approach against a leaky Como.
However, the spoils could be shared, with Fabregas's men possessing enough in attack to unpick the home side's rearguard.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
