Empoli vs Napoli Match Analysis and Prediction

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With their Scudetto hopes hanging loosely, Napoli make a trip to Tuscany on Sunday, as they face an ailing Empoli outfit who are without a win in 2022.

The two teams meet at Stadio Carlo Castellani after Napoli lost the lead to drop points against Roma last time out, while Empoli were defeated, going 16 matches without success for the first time in Serie A.

Empoli have won their last two league matches against Napoli, icluding a 1-0 victory in December’s reverse fixture, and will now seek to complete a seasonal double over their fellow Azzuri for the very first time in Serie A.

However, when the clubs last met, Empoli were flying high in the top half of the table, as they enjoyed an amazing return to the Italian top-flight. Now, though, Aurelio Andreazzoli leads a side deprived of confidence.

Empoli currently sit 14th in the table and remain 12 points above the bottom three, but will not want to break a record that has stood throughout Serie A history, with no team having avoided relegation without winning a single match in the second half of the season.

Meanwhile, despite remaining in the race for a first title in over 30 years, the result of Napoli’s encounter with Roma on Monday makes them outsiders heading into the final five matches of their 2021-22 campaign.

Luciano Spalletti’s side head to the weekend with a four-point deficit to leaders AC Milan, although reigning champions Inter sit between them and Rossoneri and still have potentially decisive game in hand.

Following a defeat at home to Fiorentina a fortnight ago, Napoli will now hope that their superb record away from home can continue, having posted the joint-best performance on the road in Serie A this season, while losing only once against Inter last November.

Empoli vs Napoli head to head

The two teams have previously met on 18 occasions across all competitions, where both have claimed seven victories each while they have drawn in four. Empoli have scored 31 goals and conceded 30 in the process. In their last five meetings, Napoli have won three while Empoli have won twice.

Empoli 2-3 Napoli 19/03/17

Napoli 5-1 Empoli 02/11/18

Empoli 2-1 Napoli 03/04/19

Napoli 3-2 Empoli 13/01/21

Napoli 0-1 Empoli 12/12/21

Empoli latest home form

Empoli have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having been winless in their seven most recent matches. In their last home game, they played out a goalless draw with Spezia in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded nine.

Empoli 2-4 Roma 23/01/22

Empoli 1-1 Cagliari 13/02/22

Empoli 2-3 Juventus 26/02/22

Empoli 1-1 Verona 20/03/22

Empoli 0-0 Spezia 09/04/22

Empoli latest away form

Empoli have recently been on a poor run of form on the road, having failed to win in any of their ten most recent matches. In their last away game, they were defeated 4-1 by Udinese in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored one goal and conceded eight.

Sampdoria 2-0 Empoli 19/02/22

Genoa 0-0 Empoli 06/03/22

AC Milan 1-0 Empoli 12/03/22

Fiorentina 1-0 Empoli 03/04/22

Udinese 4-1 Empoli 16/04/22

Napoli latest home form

Napoli have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just one of their six most recent matches. In their last home game, they played out a 1-1 draw with Roma in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded 10.

Napoli 2-4 Barcelona 24/02/22

Napoli 0-1 AC Milan 06/03/22

Napoli 2-1 Udinese 19/03/22

Napoli 2-3 Fiorentina 10/04/22

Napoli 1-1 Roma 18/04/22

Napoli latest away form

Napoli have recently been on a good run of form on the road, as they have been unbeaten in their ten most recent matches. In their last away game, they managed to defeat Atalanta 3-1 in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored nine goals and conceded five.

Barcelona 1-1 Napoli 17/02/22

Cagliari 1-1 Napoli 21/02/22

Lazio 1-2 Napoli 27/02/22

Verona 1-2 Napoli 13/03/22

Atalanta 1-3 Napoli 03/04/22

Empoli news

Empoli will be boosted by the return of midfield regular Szymon Zurkowski after the midfielder missed out againsy Udinese while serving a one-game ban.

He should replace Marco Benassi in a central trio for the hosts, with on-loan defender Sebastiano Luperto in line to start against his parent club at the back.

Napoli news

Napoli’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo is still stepping up his recovery and may not be ready to feature, while Kalidou Koulibaly serves a suspension for accumulated bookings.

Juan Jesus (knee) and midfielder Stanislav Lobotka (bicep) are both doubtful for Napoli, while goalkeeper David Ospina has been sidelined by flu in recent days.

Prediction and Odds

Empoli have won just three times at home all season and have scored only twice in their last six matches, so they are not likely to pose as tough opponents for Napoli.

The visitors cannot afford to fail in the final few weeks, and we back them to come away with a victory.

Odds: 1 2.35 X 2.05 2 2.20