Empoli vs Sassuolo: Preview and Prediction

Empoli vs Sassuolo
2016/17 Italian Serie A
Date: Sunday, 30th April 2017
Kick-off at 14:00 UK / 15:00 CET
Venue: Stadio Carlo Castellani (Empoli).

Following a shock win over AC Milan, Empoli will be looking to further pull away from the bottom three teams as they prepare to host Sassuolo on Sunday.

Despite having the worst attack in the division, plus a long-standing losing streak, Empoli were perfectly content to rest on their laurels for much of this season. Normally, an attack that, up until recently had yet to score 20 – as a team – would spell relegation for most sides. Fortunately, perhaps, the Azzurri had a saving grace: the even worse-performances by Pescara, Crotone, and Palermo.

However, all of a sudden, Crotone appear to have grown some teeth, and the Squali are staging a desperate battle to avoid the drop. That certainly caught Empoli’s attention, and come into this game having earned seven points from their last three games. That includes back to back wins against Fiorentina and the aforementioned Milan.

Meanwhile, Sassuolo come into this match having seemingly turned a small corner; they are unbeaten in their past three matches. That includes a very impressive 2-2 draw against Napoli, and the Neroverdi will be welcoming back key defender Federico Peluso after he missed out due to suspension.

It must feel like a lifetime ago that Eusebio Di Francesco’s side were Serie A’s surprise packages, as they seemingly came out of nowhere to finish sixth and qualify for their first ever Europa League campaign. They currently find themselves in 14th after an injury-ravaged campaign, and given that they are in no danger of relegation, they will just be content to wrap up the season. The Neroverdi have won just four out of their last 16 away games, and they will be taking on an Empoli side now desperate to keep Crotone at bay with just a few games remaining.

Empoli vs Sassuolo: Head-to-head statistics

• Empoli have a record of W5-D4-L11 in their last 20 home games against teams ranked above them in the table.
• Sassuolo have a record of W11-D6-L3 in their last 20 away games against teams ranked below them in the table.
• Empoli and Sassuolo have never drawn in Serie A.
• So far, it’s been three wins for the Neroverdi and two for the Azzurri.
• Empoli have failed to win their last 5 home matches

Empoli vs Sassuolo: Prediction

The rise of Crotone has given Empoli the impetus they very much lacked throughout the season. For the longest time, the Azzurri were seemingly content to be mediocre and coast along on their laurels, much to the dismay of their fans. They still do have the worst attack in the division, with a dismal 22 goals, but now have won back to back games and will be fancying their chances against Sassuolo.

Empoli have scored in eight out of their last nine home games, whilst Sassuolo have won just four on the road all season. That being said, the Neroverdi and the Azzurri have seen goals on both sides in four out of the last six meetings, and Sassuolo have failed to score only once in their last seven trips to Empoli’s home.