Defending Serie A champions Inter head to Stadio Carlo Castellani to take on out-of-form Empoli in a must-win midweek fixture. Wednesday’s encounter in Tuscany requires a quick turnaround after Simone Inzaghi’s charges featured in an intense Derby d’Italia on Sunday.
Inter threw away a two-goal cushion in a remarkable 4-4 home draw against fiercest rivals Juventus, as Kenan Yildiz’s late brace canceled Piotr Zielinski’s first-half heroics. The Polish midfielder slotted home two penalties in his first Serie A start for the Nerazzurri, but it wasn’t enough for them to beat the Turin giants in back-to-back league meetings for the first time since 2004.
There’s no time to dwell on the past, with Inter entering Gameweek 10 four points adrift of early pacesetters Napoli, who squeaked past Lecce 1-0 on Saturday. Inzaghi’s men are odds-on to return to the win column after relinquishing a five-game winning streak across all competitions in one of the most enthralling Derby d’Italia installments this century.
As for Empoli, they squandered a narrow halftime lead in a 1-1 stalemate against Parma on Sunday afternoon, making it four consecutive league matches without winning (D2, L2). That’s a far cry from their scintillating start to the season, highlighted by a 2-1 away win against Roma and a scoreless home draw versus Juventus.
However, those results provide a strong indication of what Inter could be up against on Wednesday. Empoli have become synonymous with defying the underdog status during Roberto D’Aversa’s early regime and will aim to uphold that reputation against injury-hit Inter.
Match Preview
Empoli
This match-up has never been kind to Empoli. They have only won three of their 38 historic meetings with Inter (D3, L32), most recently defeating them at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in January 2023. Yet, they have since lost all three subsequent league duels against the Nerazzurri without scoring, including a narrow 1-0 defeat in this corresponding fixture last term.
As if that’s not concerning enough, Empoli have been on the receiving end in their last six top-flight home games against Inter, failing to get on the scoresheet on each occasion. Scoring has been an issue for Gli Azzurri this season, perhaps best illustrated by the fact they’re the only Serie A side yet to find the net on home turf in 2024/25.
If it’s any consolation, three of their four league outings at Castellani have ended 0-0, with the exception of a frustrating 1-0 loss to Napoli last time out. Defensive resilience has been among Empoli’s most significant improvements under D’Aversa as they’ve conceded the division’s third-lowest six goals after the opening nine rounds.
Inter
A feel-good factor has perhaps deserted the Inter camp following a stomach-wrenching result against Juventus. They’ll, nonetheless, be out to extend their six-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W5, D1). Keeping a clean sheet in their last nine Serie A visits to Castellani (W8, D1) bodes well, as does their recent traveling record.
Indeed, after back-to-back low-scoring draws against Manchester City and Monza in mid-September, the visitors have won three consecutive matches on hostile turf. Yet, as each triumph came by a single-goal margin and the last two yielded an identical 1-0 scoreline, Inter cannot afford to take this trip lightly.
Prone to late lapses of concentration, they’ve conceded a goal beyond the 80th minute in five of their last six league games. That’s a warning sign for Inzaghi, as is the fact Inter couldn’t get on the scoresheet before halftime on their two most recent road trips.
Team News
Samuele Perisan, Tyronne Ebuehi, and long-term absentee Saba Sazonov are still on the sidelines. Whether Youssef Maleh and Szymon Zurkowski would be ready to feat remains questionable. But Empoli can still call upon Milan loanee Lorenzo Colombo to lead the line in the potential absence of Inter-owned Sebastiano Esposito.
In the meantime, Inter will take this trip without Hakan Calhanoglu, Francesco Acerbi, Carlos Augusto, and Tajon Buchanan. On a more positive note, Kristjan Asllani is back to full fitness. Nevertheless, Inzaghi will probably go with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Nicolo Barella, and Zielinski as his midfield trio.
Empoli vs Inter Potential Line-ups
Empoli (3-4-2-1): Devis Vasquez; Saba Goglichidze, Ardian Ismajli, Mattia Viti; Emmanuel Gyasi, Tino Anjorin, Alberto Grassi, Giuseppe Pezzella; Jacopo Fazzini, Ola Solbakken; Lorenzo Colombo.
Inter (3-5-2): Yann Sommer; Yann Bisseck, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni; Matteo Darmian, Piotr Zielinski, Nicolo Barella, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Marcus Thuram, Mehdi Taremi.
Empoli vs Inter Prediction
Inter will undoubtedly be determined to atone for letting a potentially season-defining win slip through their grasp on Sunday and maintain their formidable away run against Empoli. Despite several impressive results earlier in the season, we expect Gli Azzurri to fall victim to Inter’s effort to return to winning ways.
Prediction: Inter to Win
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