Back to Serie A action following a midweek Coppa Italia heartbreak, top-four hopefuls Roma entertain mid-table Empoli at the Stadio Olimpico. Saturday’s fixture in the capital comes in tumultuous times for the hosts, who have experienced a rough week after a bright start to the new calendar year.
Napoli defeated Roma 2-1 last weekend, knocking Jose Mourinho’s side down from a six-match unbeaten streak in Serie A (W3, D3). If that wasn’t demoralizing enough, the Giallorossi succumbed to an underwhelming 2-1 Coppa Italia quarter-final loss to whipping boys Cremonese on Wednesday.
Amends for a shock cup elimination may serve as a powerful motive as Roma aim to at least remain within a one-point distance of fourth-placed Atalanta. Mourinho’s men commence this round on the periphery of the Champions League spots and must continue grinding if they’re to secure a top-four finish for the first time since 2017/18.
On the other hand, visiting Empoli wasted a two-goal lead in a dramatic 2-2 home draw against Torino last weekend, extending their unbeaten league run to six games (W3, D3). Stuck in mid-table despite their longest undefeated run in the top flight since 2015, the visitors could even climb within a touching distance of the top six.
That would require Empoli to pull off a historic win for the club, considering they have never previously recorded a triumph away at Roma in Serie A. A 2-0 defeat in this corresponding fixture last season marked their 14th unsuccessful attempt to land three points at the Olimpico (D2, L2), emphasizing the size of the task at hand.
Preview
Roma
Roma have won both home league outings since the calendar flipped to 2023 by an aggregate score of 3-0, taking down Bologna and Fiorentina in that span. Another similar success against Empoli would see them record three consecutive top-flight home triumphs without conceding for the first time since May 2019.
There’s plenty of reason for enthusiasm in the home camp, given that Roma last suffered a loss to Empoli in Serie A in 2007. Since then, they have racked up ten victories and three draws in their subsequent 13 league encounters against Gli Azzurri, including six consecutive wins in the build-up to this clash.
Player to Watch: Paulo Dybala
Paulo Dybala almost single-handedly decided the reverse fixture at the Stadio Carlo Castellani, breaking the deadlock and delivering an assist to inspire Roma’s hard-earned 2-1 win. Despite all the injuries, the Argentine forward boasts seven goals and four assists in Serie A this term.
Empoli
Empoli pulled off a historic upset at Inter on their last Serie A travel as Tommaso Baldanzi netted a winning goal in a 1-0 triumph at Giuseppe Meazza. That was their first-ever top-flight victory at the Nerazzurri, suggesting their misfortunes at the Olimpico could end come Saturday. But their scoring problems could throw a spanner in the works.
Paolo Zanetti’s men have netted only 19 goals in 20 Serie A matches this season, with only four sides scoring fewer than Empoli. It’s worth noting, though, that the abovementioned win at Inter halted their five-game winless league run on the road (D3, L2). That alone could be an encouragement they needed to finally break their ‘Roma hoodoo.’
Player to Watch: Tommaso Baldanzi
Baldanzi’s game-winning strike at Inter was his fourth goal in Serie A this season as the prodigious midfielder looks to be developing into a decisive factor for Empoli.
Team News
Besides long-term absentees Georginio Wijnaldum and Leonardo Spinazzola, Roma avoided picking up fresh injury concerns against Cremonese last time out.
As for Empoli, Mattia Destro, Alberto Grassi, Ardian Ismajli, and Lorenzo Tonelli all have question marks over their heads.
Roma vs Empoli Potential Lineups
Roma (3-4-2-1): Rui Patricio; Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling, Roger Ibanez; Zeki Celik, Bryan Cristante, Nemanja Matic, Nicola Zalewski; Lorenzo Pellegrini, Paulo Dybala; Tammy Abraham.
Empoli (4-3-1-2): Guglielmo Vicario; Petar Stojanovic, Koni De Winter, Sebastiano Luperto, Fabiano Parisi; Filippo Bandinelli, Razvan Marin, Liam Henderson; Tommaso Baldanzi; Martin Satriano, Francesco Caputo.
Roma vs Empoli Prediction
Despite their formidable H2H home record, Roma cannot take anything for granted against in-form Empoli. We expect the visitors to give the Giallorossi a run for their money but back Mourinnho’s side to eke out three points.
Prediction: Roma Win
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