Spezia vs Empoli prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2022-08-13 18:45.
Spezia are set to start their third consecutive campaign in Serie A (SA), with new coach Luca Gotti and new captain Emmanuel Gyasi tasked with the same target as their predecessors – to avoid relegation. A respectable 16th-place finish last campaign masked the deficiencies at both ends with their leaky defence conceding (71) close to double the number they scored (41). The summer departure of goalkeeper Ivan Provedel who kept seven clean sheets in 31 SA games last season is a further blow, as Spezia continue to search for capable replacements.
It further adds to the anxieties that the home fans have, after seeing Spezia finish last season with their worst ever run of consecutive SA home losses, with each of those four defeats seeing them concede at least three goals.
Almost a mirror image of their hosts, Empoli are hopeful of steering clear of the relegation blues but are going through some major changes. In fact, new manager Paolo Zanetti will have to do without on-loan striker Andrea Pinamonti, who contributed (G13, A2) to a large percentage of their 50 SA goals last season, after he joined Sassuolo.
Empoli's run of 14 SA campaigns without a draw in their opening match (W4, L10) is the most for any club which sparks hopes of a decisive result on this trip, although they enter this game with the fewest SA wins so far in 2022. Being on the road may not be a bad thing on that note, as the Tuscans were one of just six SA clubs to record more away points than at home last season.
Players to watch: Daniele Verde dyed his beard white – as promised – after Spezia's survival, with his 14 contributions (G8, A6) being a joint-record for the club in a single SA campaign. His Empoli counterpart Mattia Destro will turn up for a sixth different SA side and his last five top-flight debuts saw him make three goal contributions (G2, A1).
Hot stat: No team conceded more goals past the 80th minute than Spezia (15) last SA season.