Empoli – Sampdoria SOCCER PICKS
Empoli and Sampdoria meet at Stadio Carlo Castellani, in a match for the 17 th round of Serie A. In this stadium, the history of direct confrontations is favorable to the visiting team, which records 1 win and 2 draws in the last 3 matches. In fact, the last time these two teams played a match at this stadium was on 21-08-2016, for Serie A, which ended with the victory of Sampdoria by (0-1). The only goal of the match was scored by L. Muriel (37 ‘). In this match the home factor may be decisive, since Sampdoria presents considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor.
Empoli:
After 4 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses, the home team is currently in the 14 th position of the league, with 16 points won. In the last match, they lost in an away match against Fiorentina by (3-1), after in the previous match they won (2-1) at home, against Bologna. This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 4 wins, 6 draws and 5 losses in away matches, with 29 goals scored and 25 conceded; against 6 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses at their stadium, with 19 goals scored and 18 conceded. For the championship, Empoli won 13 points out of 24 possible, after 4 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses in the last 8 home matches. In their home league matches the most frequent result at half-time was the 1-0 (3 out of 8 matches). The team has not been too strong defensively, since they have suffered goals in the last 10 matches, but their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 8 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In their home matches there is a tendency for goals, since 7 of the last 8 matches for this competition have ended with Over 1,5 goals. In 16 matches in the competition, they suffered the first goal 9 times and only managed 1 comeback.
The Empoli enters this unmotivated game, after a foreign defeat, by 3-1, in the visit to the field of Fiorentina. The local club usually acts in a tactical system in 5-3-2, privileging a more defensive style of play, attacking through the central corridor. The Empoli is a team that likes to play in their own midfield, with the aim of trying not to give many spaces to their rivals. When it invests in counterattack, it usually does so through the left flank, in order to take advantage of the depth offered by the Antonelli side. Coach Giuseppe Iachini will not be able to count on Alejandro Rodríguez and Lorenzo Polvani, for being injured.
Sampdoria:
After 6 wins, 5 draws and 5 losses, the away team is currently in the 8 th position of the league, with 23 points won. In the last match, they have won in a home match against Parma by (2-0), after in the previous match they have tied tied in an away match against Lazio, by (2-2). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 4 wins, 4 draws and 7 losses in away matches; against 9 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses at their stadium. For the league, Sampdoria won 9 points out of 24 possible points, after 2 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses in the last 8 away matches.
For this competition, they have not won any of the last 4 away matches. They have not been very strong defensively, since they have suffered goals in 7 of the last 10 matches, but their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 16 matches in this tournament, they have conceded the first goal 7 times and have only won 1 result. There is 1 period that stands out in the last 8 away matches for all competitions: they have scored 5 of their 12 goals between minutes (76′-90 ‘).
Sampdoria enter this game motivated, after a home victory, 2-0, at the Parma reception: Caprari and Quagliarella scored the goals of the triumph. The visiting club usually acts in a tactical system in 4-4-2, favoring a more defensive style of play, attacking through the side runners. Sampdoria is a team that also likes to play in their own midfield, with the aim of trying to surprise their opponents through the counterattack. When it invests in the offensive process, it usually does so through the left flank, in order to take advantage of the depth offered by Murru. For this game, the foreign technician will not be able to count on Vasco Regini and Édgar Barreto, for being injured.
