Both Empoli and Inter Milan have failed to impress in the first half of their Serie A encounter, going into the break locked at 0-0.
Manuel Pucciarelli tested Samir Handanovic in the early stages with a low drive from distance, but neither side were able to impose themselves on the other in the opening quarter of an hour.
Inter's first shot on target came in in the 24th minute as Hernanes stepped off the right wing to bend a low shot towards the far corner, but Luigi Sepe smothered the effort.
Fredy Guarin span and ran at the Empoli defence in the 38th minute, but his bobbling effort flew wide of Sepe's right-hand post.
With the last touch of the half, Daniele Rugani glanced a free header wide of the far post as the sides enter the break level.
Kristian Johnson
