Aurelio Andreazzoli’s return as Empoli manager did not provide the anticipated boost as the team suffered their fifth consecutive defeat of the season, leaving them at the bottom of Serie A with no points. Andreazzoli’s second tenure with Empoli began with a 1-0 loss to league leaders Inter Milan, which was a slight improvement compared to their previous 7-0 thrashing by Roma.
Empoli’s struggles have been evident, with their defense conceding a league-high 13 goals this season, while they are the only team yet to find the back of the net. Their inability to score has left them in a dire position, becoming the first Serie A team in history to start a season without a goal or a point from their first five matches. However, there is a glimmer of hope as they managed to beat Salernitana 2-1 in this same fixture last season.
Salernitana, too, has yet to secure a win this season, but they have collected three draws, including a recent 1-1 home stalemate with Frosinone. The Garnets have struggled away from home, with no victory since their trip to Lecce in late January (D7, L4). In fact, Salernitana has won only twice in Serie A away matches since May 2022 (D12, L9).
Manager Paulo Sousa will be eager to improve Salernitana’s away form, especially against a bottom-of-the-table Empoli side. However, their recent head-to-head record against Empoli is far from impressive, with only one win in their last nine meetings. They haven’t won an away clash against Empoli since November 1999 (D2, L8).
In terms of key battles, Etrit Berisha, Empoli’s goalkeeper, made five saves against Inter, and despite not keeping a clean sheet this season, he has previously secured three shutouts in his career against Salernitana. On the other side, Jovane Cabral, who scored his first goal for Salernitana in their recent draw, has a remarkable record of not being on the losing side in the last 20 games when he found the back of the net.
Empoli’s struggle to maintain a clean sheet is evident, as they have failed to do so in their last 14 Serie A games. Both teams are in dire need of points to climb the Serie A table, and this clash promises to be a crucial battle in their fight for survival in the top flight of Italian football.