Empoli vs Napoli prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2024-10-19 10:30.
[p]Empoli may have squandered an early lead away to Lazio before the international break (L 2-1) but have won many admirers in their best start to a Serie A season in nearly 20 years. An upbeat manager Roberto D’Aversa was nonetheless “satisfied” with an “excellent performance” in their first competitive loss of his tenure, during which the Tuscans have also progressed to the Coppa Italia round of 16. [/p]
[p]Their achievement could perhaps best be underlined by the fact that they’ve taken nine of a possible 18 Serie A points as underdogs (W2, D3, L1) this season – more than any other club ahead of the round. Empoli are however yet to win a league match at home this term, so it seems unlikely that D’Aversa will snap his personal four-game losing streak against Napoli here.  [/p]
[p]This meeting may have come a few weeks too late for the hosts though, as Napoli have made up for their opening-round false start (L 3-0 at Hellas Verona) with five wins from six subsequent Serie A matches to sit atop the standings at the start of the weekend, There is an intriguing subplot at play in the race for the title this season however, as Antonio Conte and his Inter Milan successor Simone Inzaghi are jostling for the crown in what is shaping up to be a fascinating battle.[/p]
[p]Napoli will need to maintain their resilience on the road to strengthen their grip on first place, as they have kept clean sheets at both Juventus (D 0-0) and Cagliari (W 4-0) in their two most recent away outings following that disaster against Verona. This is a trip that some Partenopei players may be particularly wary of though, as Empoli were the only side to complete a Serie A double over them last term (1-0 on both occasions).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: After finding the net in his last two Serie A away trips, Sebastiano Esposito will be looking to open Empoli’s league account at home this season. Romelu Lukaku is beginning to impose himself in his new colours, having scored after half-time in three separate top-flight victories for Napoli.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Eleven of Napoli’s last 12 Serie A wins have produced more than 2.5 total goals. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]