Empoli and Torino face off at Stadio Carlo Castellani, in a match for the 37th round of Serie A. Torino won at home by (3-0) the last time they met in this edition of the league, at 26-12 -2018. In this stadium, the history of direct confrontations is favorable to the home team, which records 1 win and 2 draws in the last 3 matches. However, the last time these two teams played a match at this stadium was on 02-02-2017, in a match for Serie A that ended in a draw by (1-1). The goals of the match were scored by M. Pucciarelli (45 ‘), for Empoli, and A. Belotti (11′), for Torino. Despite being a match between 18 th and 7 th of the table, it is actually a match between the 11 th best team in home matches and the 6 th best in away matches.
Empoli:
After 9 wins, 8 draws and 19 losses, the home team is currently in the 18 th position of the league, with 35 points won. In the last match, they have won in an away match against Sampdoria by (1-2), after in the previous match they have won (1-0) at home, against Fiorentina. This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, since they have won 27 points in away matches, with 27 goals scored and 38 conceded, against 29 points and 29 conceded to 29 against. For the championship, Empoli won 14 points out of 30 possible, after 4 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses in the last 10 matches played at their stadium. They have not been very strong defensively, since they have suffered goals in 8 of 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 12 of the last 18 matches for this competition have ended with Over 2,5 goals. In 36 matches in this competition, they only got 1 comeback in the 19 games in which they suffered the first goal. In the last 18 home matches for this competition there is 1 period that stands out: they have conceded 11 of their 29 goals between minutes (31′-45 ‘).
The Empoli comes to this match with a victory by 1-2 in the move to the arena of Sampdoria, thus registering the second success in this competition: the goals of the team were scored by Di Lorenzo and Farias. It should be noted that the home club needs to win to get out of the relegation zone. In this game against Torino, a rival who is still fighting for his goals, coach Aurelio Andreazzoli must keep the team in a 3-5-2, privileging defensive organization and rapid attacks. Francesco Caputo is Empoli’s best scorer in the championship, with 15 goals scored. For this game, the coach can not count on Antonelli, La Gumina and Polvani, all with physical problems.
Torino:
After 15 wins, 15 draws and 6 losses, the away team is currently in the 7 th position of the league, with 60 points won. In the last match, they have won in a home match against Sassuolo by (3-2), after in the previous match they have tied tied in an away match against Juventus, by (1-1). This is a team little affected by the house factor, since it conquered similar results at home and abroad. In the last 10 away league matches Torino has a record of 2 wins, 7 draws and 1 loss, so they have won 13 points out of 30 possible. In their away league matches the most frequent result at half-time was the 0-0 (9 out of 18 matches). The team has conceded goals in 7 of the last 10 matches, so it has not presented great defensive solidity, but their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In their away matches for this competition there is a tendency for few goals, since 13 of the last 18 matches have ended with less than 3 goals. In 36 matches in this tournament, he suffered the first goal 11 times and only managed 3 comebacks. In the last 18 home matches for this competition there is 1 period that stands out: they have scored 8 of their 19 goals between minutes (46’-60 ‘).
The Torino has made a very positive Italian championship and currently occupies the seventh position, with 60 points won, 2 points behind AC Milan, a team that occupies a place in the area that gives access to European competitions. It should be noted that the visiting club beat Sassuolo, 3-2, on the last day of the Italian championship: the goals of the team were scored by Zaza and Belotti (2). Normally the trainer Walter Mazzarri acts with three men in the defense, four in the center of the field and three in the attack, being Belotti the most advanced player. We emphasize that the visitors have presented great quality in the defense-attack transition. Everything indicates that the foreign trainer can not count on Parigini and Ansaldi, both with physical problems.
