Empoli vs Monza prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2024-08-16 18:45.
[p]Empoli are gearing up for a fourth successive top-flight campaign for the first time in their history, after preserving their Serie A status in dramatic fashion by scoring a 93rd minute winner on the final day of last season. The Azzurri went through three managers during the 2023/24 season, and they’ll have another new name in charge on Saturday as Roberto D’Aversa, who was sacked as Lecce boss in March after headbutting Hellas Verona striker Thomas Henry, takes over the reins.[/p]
[p]Ahead of his first league game in their dugout, Empoli fans can take heart from the fact that they avoided defeat in their final four league matches at Stadio Carlo Castellani last term (W3, D1). Yet, defeat on the opening day in three consecutive seasons doesn’t bode well as the Azzurri look to avoid a repeat of their horrific start to the last campaign that saw them lose their first five fixtures without scoring in Serie A.[/p]
[p]One of those defeats came away at Monza in August, but that was the only time that the Biancorossi won across their opening six games (D3, L2). Under the now departed Raffaele Palladino, they recovered to a second consecutive mid-table finish before he left for Fiorentina, paving the way for the legendary figure of Alessandro Nesta to step into the hot seat and try to take the club to the next level.[/p]
[p]He’ll first have to halt the negative momentum that a nine-match winless run to end the season gave them (D3, L6), while Nesta also inherits a side yet to win a season opener in Serie A (L2). He may be more concerned though by Monza’s dreadful record away at Empoli where they have failed to win in six prior H2Hs, losing on five occasions.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: On-loan midfielder Szymon Ĺ»urkowski has extended his stay at Empoli for another year, and he’ll be looking to match last season’s exploits when he scored a hat-trick in this fixture. Daniel Maldini also impressed after joining on loan in January (G4, A1), with Monza winning four out of the five matches (L1) that he directly contributed to goals in – he’s since signed for the Biancorossi on a permanent basis. His dad, Paolo Maldini, twice won the Champions League while playing alongside his new boss, Nesta, for AC Milan. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Monza have never scored a first half goal on their trips to Empoli.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Tom Penn[/i][/p]