Empoli and Bologna get the Serie A weekend underway when they meet at the Stadio Carlo Castellani on Friday night.
The visitors had their lengthy winning streak ended by a remarkable Inter Milan side last weekend, but can maintain their Champions League credentials with a victory here.
Match preview
© Reuters
Despite another superb performance, Bologna came unstuck against a resolute Nerazzurri last Saturday, losing 1-0 thanks to Yann Bisseck's first-half header.
That only tells half the story though, as Bologna outshot Inter 19 to five and denied the league leaders from having a shot of any sort in the entire second half.
Simone Inzaghi was complimentary of Thiago Motta's side in the aftermath, but it ultimately ended the Rossoblu's six-match winning streak in Serie A.
Along the way, Bologna picked up some crucial wins in their hunt for the top four, including against Fiorentina, and away to Atalanta BC and Lazio.
That could be a sign that their form on the road is turning, as they had just one win from their opening 11 away league games this season, before going back-to-back in their last two.
Despite last week's defeat, Bologna remain in the top four, with fifth-placed Roma three points behind, and while there is a strong possibility that Italy will get five spots in the Champions League next season, that will only strengthen their chances.
That makes this encounter against a struggling Empoli side a must-win though, but Bologna have a very poor record here in this part of Tuscany, failing to win on all of their 12 league visits to the Carlo Castellani.
The last four meetings at this ground have all ended in defeat for the visitors, conceding 12 goals in the process, as their only ever win in Empoli came in the Coppa Italia back in 2001.
Empoli need a win for very different reasons, as the relegation battle intensifies heading into the final straight.
© Reuters
With Salernitana almost certainly down, the seven teams above from 19th up to 13th are separated by just four points, and the Azzurri sit just one point and one place above Frosinone in 18th.
After an inspired upturn in form when Davide Nicola was appointed earlier in the year that saw Empoli go unbeaten in his first six games in charge, they have now suffered back-to-back 1-0 defeats.
A defeat at home to Cagliari was damaging as another win for the Sardinians last weekend moved them above Empoli, while the Azzurri were spirited enough in losing at San Siro to an in-form AC Milan side last time out.
The relegation picture will not be decided in away games to AC Milan, but Empoli may have to pick up a surprise result somewhere given their very difficult run of games to finish the season.
After this clash with fourth-place Bologna, Nicola's men still have to travel to Inter, Atalanta and Lazio, while also welcoming Napoli and Roma here, so fixtures against Lecce, Frosinone and Udinese in the run-in look like must-wins, otherwise relegation will be on the cards for the Tuscans.
Team News
© Reuters
Empoli will be without Jacopo Fazzini here after he picked up his fifth booking of the season last weekend, while Alberto Grassi's recent issue will also rule him out.
Szymon Zurkowski returned to the midfield last week, and he is the club's top scorer with four goals, all of which came in his first 108 minutes of action since rejoining from Spezia in January.
It is therefore no surprise that Empoli have blanked in 15 of their 28 games this season, so Mbaye Niang will look to rectify their scoring woes, and he got his first start for the club against former club Milan last Saturday after scoring in his first three appearances since joining from Adana Demirspor, all coming from off the bench.
Joshua Zirkzee is the huge injury concern for the visitors, as the Dutch striker has played a pivotal role in their success this season.
The Bologna front man has reached double figures for goals in Serie A, and his hold-up play is crucial to how Motta wants to attack, and recent injury absences have seen the side struggle without him.
Elsewhere, a sprained ankle is set to keep Jesper Karlsson sidelined here, while Adama Soumaoro is also absent with a season-ending knee injury.
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Caprile; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz, Luperto; Gyasi, Zurkowski, Marin, Maleh, Pezzella; Niang, Cambiaghi
Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Calafiori, Kristiansen; Freuler, Ferguson, Fabbian; Orsolini, Odgaard, Saelemaekers
We say: Empoli 0-0 Bologna
Bologna have thrived playing with a pragmatic but effective approach under Motta, but without Zirkzee in attack, they could struggle to make things happen in the final third.
Empoli have one of the bluntest attacks in Europe's top-five leagues, and coming up against one of the division's strongest defences does not look promising, but a draw would be a hugely satisfying result in their fight against the drop.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
