Empoli vs Monza prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2024-01-20 14:00.
New manager Davide Nicola needs to strike an immediate tune out of Empoli after taking charge this week. The 50-year old had been out of work for nearly a year after being sacked by Salernitana last February. However, he has answered the Blues’ SOS call, after they finally dismissed Aurelio Andreazzoli on Tuesday following a run of eight games without a victory (D3, L5).
Such form has left the club at risk of a return to Serie B after three years in the top-flight, with a 2-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Hellas Verona last weekend leaving them five points adrift of safety pre-round. Results at Stadio Carlo Castellani suggest fans have little reason to be confident of a turnaround in fortunes, given their side have the worst home record in the division, picking up only five points in ten games (W1, D2, L7) and scoring a league-low of five goals in the process!
That will be music to the ears of Monza, who are in need of a confidence boost after being on the receiving end of a 5-1 trouncing at the hands of Inter Milan last time out – their heaviest defeat for 13 years! Even so, manager Raffaele Palladino wasn’t too harsh on his players, simply urging them to put the result to the back of their minds and move on as quickly as possible, as they attempt to avoid a fourth defeat in six league outings (W1, D1).
The Biancorossi should have faith that they can avoid slumping to that fate, given they are unbeaten against teams who sit in the bottom-half of the table ahead of this round (W6, D3). Three of those victories have come on the road, giving Monza one of the better away records in Serie A, and they will be looking to add to that tally against Empoli, whom they have beaten in two of their three previous H2Hs (L1).
Key battle: Twenty of Empoli striker Francesco Caputo’s last 25 goals have served as the first or last of the game. Attempting to keep him quiet may be Monza’s Roberto Gagliardini, who has won each of his seven H2Hs, helping his side to keep a clean sheet on five occasions.
Hot stat: Neither of these teams have won a league game from 1-0 down this season.