Lecce vs Empoli prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2022-08-27 18:45.
After defeat in their opening two Serie A (SA) games, Lecce have again dipped into the transfer market as they look to avoid losing their opening three SA games for the first time since 1997/98, when they were relegated with just 26 points! The newly-promoted outfit had already made 16 signings this summer, before further strengthening with the additions of Samuel Umtiti and Marin Pongračić from Barcelona and Wolfsburg, respectively.
The pair could line up against Empoli, who the Giallorossi have beaten in just one of their seven meetings since 2003 (D3, L3). Marco Baroni’s side may take confidence from a return to Via del mare though, given Lecce picked up more points at home than any other team in their title-winning Serie B campaign last season (44), while it took a last-gasp Denzel Dumfries goal for Inter Milan to win here on MD1 (2-1).
There is pressure building on opponents Empoli too, whose highest SA finish since 2015/16 last season has been offset by a winless SA start this time around (D1, L1), and the Azzurri are now scrambling to avoid going winless in their opening three fixtures for the first time since that 2015/16 season. Alarmingly though, a 1-0 defeat at Spezia and last week’s goalless draw at home to Fiorentina means Empoli are one of only three teams in SA yet to score, as they now seek to avoid going three top-flight games without scoring since September – October 2016, when they failed to net in eight successive league fixtures!
Empoli mustered a mere four shots in the latter of those two fixtures, of which just a couple were on target, perhaps forcing Paolo Zanetti to shake-up his strike force by handing a first start to Martín Satriano. Zanetti’s hand is forced to make a change in defence though after Sebastiano Luperto’s dismissal last week – an untimely intervention perhaps for a side who have lost five of their last six SA away games (W1).
Players to watch: Assan Ceesay has netted seven times in his last nine league appearances, opening his account for Lecce against Inter two weeks ago. Meanwhile Empoli’s Nicolas Haas scored the opener in a 2-2 draw at this venue in 2020/21, and has been booked in his last two appearances against Lecce.
Hot stat: Empoli have only won one of their last 13 games played on a Sunday (D7, L5).