Empoli finished last season on tenth place and during the summer and preseason they showed some very good signs and announced a fight for top five. However after 2-0 victory in Copa Italia against Vicenza, two defeats in two opening league matches completely devastated the image of the team. They played completely disorganized and without ideas. Two red cards, one in each match, only complicate things for the team and their future appearances in the league. This match against Crotone may be their chance to bounce back from the bad run and retrieve some of the lost confidence and self-esteem.
On the other side, Crotone started with defeat in Copa Italia against Verona, and continued with defeats in the league against Bologna and Genoa. They are considered as outsiders in the league but they also stand for the team who can make surprises. If not they wouldn’t be here, and no matter how weak, they are playing in the strongest Italian league. When it comes to their mutual encounters, Empoli won in their last match back in 2014 but Crotone won in two and have been undefeated in five matches before.
In this match Empoli enters as favorites but let’s not write off Crotone before match ends. Plenty of midfield action and probably several yellows, maybe even reds are expected and we will definitely enjoy in this match, both to watch and to bet on. Very good betting odds are offered for this match and with our betting tips and predictions, try to place the right bets and win some cash. Enjoy in great football match Empoli vs Crotone and check out our other match previews.
Missing players
Empoli do not have many missing players for this match against Crotone. Levan Mchedlidze is injured and he will not play for sure. Vincent Laurini is suspended and he also cannot help his team on this match. All other players are fully fit and ready for the match.
On the other side Crotone also do not have many missing players for this match. Alex Cordaz is not fully fit and he is doubtful for the match. All other players are fully fit and ready for the match.
Possible starting lineups
Empoli: Skorupski; Pasqual, Costa, Bellusci, Veseli; Buchel, Mauri, Krunic; Saponara; Pucciarelli, Maccarone
Crotone: Cordaz; Ceccherini, Santos, Ferrari; Rosi, Rohden, Salzano, Martella; Tonev, Falcinelli, Palladino
Key players
Empoli: Giusepe Bellusci, Andrea Costa, Manuel Pucciarelli
Crotone: Raffaele Palladino, Alex Cordaz, Bruno Martella
Head To Head
Three of the last five meetings between Empoli and Crotone have ended in a draw. Empoli took four points from their two games against Crotone the last time the sides were in the same division, in Serie B in the 2013/14 campaign.
Stats
There have been under 2.5 goals scored in 11 of Empoli's last 13 games, while Crotone have scored only one goal in their two away games this season.
Team News
Right-back Vincent Laurini is suspended for this match but he's the only major absentee for Empoli.
Crotone have a full squad to choose from for their trip to Empoli for a Serie A game on Monday evening.
Reason For Betting Tips
Free betting tips and predictions are hard to provide for this Serie A game, which brings the weekend’s action to an end on Monday.
Empoli and Crotone have both lost their opening two matches of the season and they prop up the league table at this early stage of the campaign.
It’s likely to be a close match as there have been under 2.5 goals scored in 11 of Empoli’s last 13 games, while Crotone have only scored one goal in their two league games this season.
Crotone were unlucky not to get anything when they traveled to Crotone on the first weekend of the season and they shouldn’t be too disheartened by the way they’ve started the campaign.
Defeats to Sampdoria and Udinese without scoring a goal suggest Empoli could be in for a long season and they will see Crotone at home as a must-win match.
However, the visitors will also be desperate for their first points of the new season and we are going to side with the Serie A newcomers here.
Crotone Double Chance at 7/5 with bet365 is too big a price for a match expected to be very close and Empoli don’t deserve to be such strong favourites.
From the correct scores market, we also like Crotone Double Chance at 7/5 with bet365 and are tipping that.
