Empoli vs Chievo
2016/17 Italian Serie A.
Date: Sunday, 23 October 2016
Kick-Off: 14:00 UK,
Venue: Stadio Carlo Castellani (Empoli).
Empoli only has one win to show after eight rounds of competitions in the Italian top flight this season. They opened the term with a two-game losing skid before scoring their first win. Two drawn matches were in between another three-game losing slide, dropping them to the bottom three relegation area with only Crotone lower in the standings.
Gli Azzurri managed to hold a 10-man Genoa squad to a 0-0 draw in their most recent game held at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium last Sunday to add a point to their slate, as per SkySports.
Genoa forward Darko Lazovic was sent off in the 34th minute after getting booked with a second yellow card for fouling Empoli's Manuel Pasqual.
It was still a disappointing result for head coach Giovanni Martusciello as his team was not able to score a goal against an undermanned side.
Meanwhile, Chievo is struggling as of late with two losses in their last three games. Gialloblu was routed by AC Milan, 1-3, at their own home ground of Marc'Antonio Bentegodi Stadium also last Sunday, Goal reported.
Milan scored the first two goals in the 45th and 46th minutes courtesy of Juraj Kucka and M'Baye Niang respectively before head coach Rolando Maran's boys responded with a free-kick from veteran winger Valter Birsa at the 76th.
The loss was sealed for Chievo when defender Dario Dainelli buried an own goal in injury time after an attack from Milan striker Carlos Bacca.
Chievo remained at the seventh spot in the overall standings after the loss, only one point below Torino, Napoli, and Lazio, who are all tied on points at the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions.
Empoli vs Chievo Head-to-head statistics
- Empoli have failed to score in their past five matches.
- The Azzurri have also failed to win their last five games.
- Chievo have won their last two away matches.
- The Flying Donkeys have won 12, drawn four, and lost four out of their last 20 away games against teams ranked below them in the table.
- Empoli have lost 10 out of their last 20 home games against teams ranked above them in the table (five wins, five draws).
- Chievo won this corresponding fixture of last season by a 3-1 margin.
Empoli vs Chievo: Prediction
Empoli’s bad form, coupled with Chievo’s much stronger one, will lead most to argue that the Flying Donkeys will take all three points in this one. Still, one should never underestimate an opponent who are already involved in a desperate battle for survival. Furthermore, Chievo are coming into this game having lost 3-1 at home – which is a place they have long prided themselves as being like a fortress.The visitors are highly unlikely to lose this game, but a win is not necessarily guaranteed – especially if Empoli manage to hunker down the way they did against Genoa.
Empoli vs Chievo: Betting tips
Double Chance – Chievo to draw or win at 11/20 (1.55)Under 2.5 goals at 1/2 (1.50).
