Both beaten by Serie A title contenders just before Christmas, Empoli and Genoa will meet for their final fixture of 2024 on Saturday afternoon.
Trailing their hosts by three points in the standings, the Grifone are aiming to bounce back from a loss to Napoli, while Empoli were edged out by relentless league leaders Atalanta BC.
Match preview
© Imago
Despite taking an early lead against Atalanta in Bergamo, with Lorenzo Colombo opening the scoring from close range, Empoli were ultimately defeated by La Dea, who went on to post an incredible 10th consecutive league win.
Sealing a 3-2 victory for the hosts, Charles De Ketelaere's late winner denied the Azzurri a point, meaning they missed out on a place in the top half of the table at Christmas.
Empoli occupy 11th place on 19 points, and even though they have exceeded most expectations so far, it could have been even better for Roberto D'Aversa's men.
If matches ended at half time, the Tuscan club would sit fifth in the table with 27 points; considering just the second half, though, they would be joint-bottom with 13 - level with lowly Venezia.
Similarly, their away record is far superior to results at Stadio Castellani so far: Empoli have scored the fewest goals in home games throughout Europe's top five leagues - just two in eight matches.
Now seeking only a second league win on home turf this term, they have also struggled to put away Genoa at their Tuscan headquarters in the past, coming out on top once in seven previous encounters.
© Imago
While they may have history on their side this weekend, Genoa must still overcome longstanding precedent to prevail at the Castellani.
The Ligurian club have won only one of their last 15 year-ending fixtures in Serie A, so Patrick Vieira's squad will seek to defy that trend on Saturday afternoon.
Last time out, the Grifone were beaten by Napoli, pushing the Scudetto hopefuls close despite conceding two first-half headers, as Andrea Pinamonti pulled one back shortly after the break, before the woodwork kept out substitute Mario Balotelli.
Vieira had gone undefeated through his first four matches, with Genoa recording three clean sheets in the process, so they remain just outside the relegation zone amid a packed bottom half of the table.
Though a scrap for survival still awaits, Vieira has tightened up a team that were leaking goals under former boss Alberto Gilardino, and they can head for Empoli on a three-game away streak without conceding, having shut out Parma, Udinese and AC Milan in recent weeks.
Team News
© Imago
Empoli end the year with a familiar situation in the treatment room, as Pietro Pellegri and Ola Solbakken head a long injury list for the hosts; Szymon Zurkowski, Tyronne Ebuehi, Saba Sazonov and Nicolas Haas are also unavailable.
In better news for Roberto D'Aversa, Jacopo Fazzini successfully came through his first substitute appearance following a layoff and could be ready to start, while veteran defender Mattia De Sciglio is back from suspension.
Lorenzo Colombo and Sebastiano Esposito - the latter of whom once scored against Genoa for Inter Milan aged 17 years and 172 days, becoming the Nerazzurri's second-youngest scorer in Serie A history - should be paired up front.
Meanwhile, the visitors' attack is spearheaded by ex-Inter striker Andrea Pinamonti, who had his most productive top-flight season while with Empoli, netting 13 times during the 2021-22 campaign - he also scored twice against them last term for Sassuolo.
Genoa have also seen their squad depleted by injury for the past few months, but Koni De Winter and Jeff Ekhator recently followed several others by resuming full training, so only Junior Messias and Ruslan Malinovskyi are still sidelined.
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Cacace; Gyasi, Anjorin, Henderson, Maleh, Pezzella; Esposito, Colombo
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Leali; Sabelli, Bani, Vasquez, Martin; Frendrup, Badelj, Miretti; Zanoli, Pinamonti, Vitinha
We say: Empoli 0-1 Genoa
Genoa are unbeaten in their last nine Serie A meetings with Empoli - drawing each of the last four - and they can take that streak into double figures by beating their hosts on Saturday.
While the Azzurri often fail to impress in front of their own fans, their visitors have proven tough to defeat since Patrick Vieira took charge.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
