Lazio vs Empoli prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2023-01-07 14:00.
Lazio finished as losers for multiple reasons in their first Serie A (SA) match of 2023 in Lecce. Not only did they suffer a 2-1 defeat despite opening the scoring, but the game was also overshadowed by racist abuse aimed towards Lecce players Umtiti and Banda, forcing the referee to halt play. While investigations continue, football-wise manager Maurizio Sarri pulled no punches in his assessment of the performance from his side, declaring his team “clearly inferior to the level we thought.”
Three SA defeats in their last five outings (W2) means Inter have now leapfrogged the Biancocelesti in the SA table. Therefore, the successful return of their historical top-scorer Ciro Immobile, who netted after just 14 minutes on the pitch last time out, may prove crucial. Especially as scoring goals, particularly at home, has been tough; Lazio last scored 2+ goals in a home league match back on 2nd October!
Empoli continued to show signs of improvement with a third positive result from four SA matches (W2, D1, L1) after drawing 1-1 away to Udinese. Now climbing towards mid-table, the Tuscany side has picked up more than half their points for the season in this period and ended last round comfortably nine points above the relegation zone.
The next goal for the visitors will be to improve their poor form on the road (W1, D4, L3), however, a good omen for them is that exactly on the same date as this clash last year, a struggling Empoli surprised everyone by securing a 3-3 draw here which in turn stopped a run of four consecutive H2H away losses.
Players to watch: Immobile has found the net in five of his eight career H2Hs (G6), with each of these five matches producing at least three goals and seeing both teams hit the net. Tommaso Baldanzi opened the scoring at Udine after just three minutes on Wednesday and became Empoli’s top SA scorer (G3).
Hot stat: Lazio are the only SA team yet to concede in the opening 30 minutes (GF: 11)