Salernitana take on Empoli in Serie A on Monday.
The hosts marginally avoided relegation last season, finishing 10 points behind their forthcoming opponents in the table.
Match preview
© Reuters
Indeed, after enduring 23 seasons away from Italy's top flight, Salernitana escaped an instant return to Serie B despite being thumped 4-0 at home to Udinese on the final day of the last campaign.
Cagliari's 0-0 draw away to Venezia meant that they were relegated instead, potentially allowing Davide Nicola a full season to stamp his mark at Salernitana having made a positive impact after taking over in February earlier this year.
With five points from their opening four games of the current season, The Garnets look set to be competitive again at the very least, having thrashed potential relegation rivals Sampdoria 4-0 at Stadio Arechi last weekend, with that victory sandwiched by draws against Udinese and Bologna.
Nicola will be hoping for another convincing victory against a side currently below them in the table on Monday.
© Reuters
Empoli, meanwhile, were promoted along with Salernitana two seasons ago, although they have more experience at this level having spent four out of five seasons competing in Serie A between 2014 and 2019.
Still, last season's points tally of 41 was an impressive achievement for a newly-promoted team, although the board made the curious decision not to extend head coach Aurelio Andreazzoli's contract with him departing in the summer to draw a close to his third spell at the club.
Former Venezia boss Paolo Zanetti has been entrusted as Andeazzoli's replacement, with age perhaps one of the major reasons as he is almost 30 years younger than his predecessor. Zanetti has an established affinity with the fans, too, having spent three years at Empoli during his playing career.
The 39-year-old remains winless from his side's opening four matches, though, having overseen three successive draws after the opening day defeat to Spezia. He will desperately be hoping to break his duck in Salerno on Monday.
- L
- D
- W
- D
- L
- L
- D
- W
- D
- L
- D
- D
- D
- L
- L
- D
- D
- D
Team News
© Reuters
Salernitana will remain without Franck Ribery, Emil Bohinen, Matteo Lovato and Ivan Radovanovic due to injury.
Having played away from home on Thursday, Nicola could make a few changes, with Antonio Candreva and Erik Botheim perhaps the likeliest candidates to come into the starting XI.
Empoli, meanwhile, will travel without Nicolo Cambiaghi and Lorenzo Tonelli due to injury.
Tommaso Baldanzi came off with a muscle injury after scoring in Wednesday's 1-1 draw against Hellas Verona, and must be considered a doubt to start here. Nedim Bajrami is poised to start in his place, while Razvan Marin is likely to return to the side to freshen up the central midfield area.
Salernitana possible starting lineup:
Sepe; Bronn, Gyomber, Fazio; Mazzocchi, Maggiore, Coulibaly, Vilhena, Candreva; Dia, Botheim
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Stojanovic, Ismajli, Luperto, Parisi; Marin, Grassi, Bandinelli; Bajrami; Destro, Satriano
We say: Salernitana 2-1 Empoli
Salernitana have made a strong start to the season and we think they could edge a close encounter.
The visitors are yet to get going under their new manager and it may take time for Zanetti to implement his ideas at the club.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
