Lazio travel to Tuscany for their final fixture before Christmas, where they will meet Empoli at the Stadio Carlo Castellani in Serie A on Friday.

Both sides are enduring poor starts to the season, with the hosts in the relegation zone and Lazio down in the bottom half.

Match preview

On their second permanent manager of the season, Empoli remain in the bottom three, albeit just one point from safety at present.

With the bottom five seemingly becoming cut adrift, the Azzurri will look to be one of the sides above the dotted line heading into 2024.

New manager Aurelio Andreazzolli has overseen a slight improvement since arriving following a gameweek four thumping at Roma, as all 12 points on the board have come under his stewardship.

Despite wins away to both Fiorentina and Napoli, form has dropped again for Empoli, and as a result, they now find themselves in the bottom three again.

Just two points from a possible 12 in their last four games has been disappointing given they played none of the big-hitters in that run of fixtures, as they lost to Sassuolo and Torino while being slightly fortunate to come away with draws against Genoa and Lecce.

Goals have been a big problem, as Empoli are the league's lowest scorers with just 10, and three of those came in that recent defeat to Sassuolo.

That result was one of many which has contributed to Empoli having Serie A's worst home record - collecting just five points from eight games at the Carlo Castellani.

Improving their fortunes here against Lazio may be a tall order too, as they have failed to win any of the previous nine head-to-heads with the Biancocelesti - losing seven.

However, Lazio have shown very little to suggest they should be huge favourites for this encounter.

Only champions Napoli can claim to have had a more underwhelming season than Lazio so far, as last season's Champions League qualifiers currently occupy a place in the bottom half with the midway point of the season on the horizon.

As five clubs battle intensely for fourth place at present, Lazio are a long way back, and manager Maurizio Sarri's first career home defeat to Inter Milan last weekend extended a poor run of results.

Going behind in the first half was always likely to be costly, and after Adam Marusic's woeful backpass gifted Lautaro Martinez the opportunity to score the opener, Lazio once against went on to lose after going behind, as they are yet to pick up a single point from a losing position this season.

Away form has not been up to scratch for the visitors either, as they have taken just one point from their last five on the road, and that run has included trips to the current bottom two - Hellas Verona and Salernitana.

One comfort this season has been that Lazio were able to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League, and Monday's draw paired them with German champions Bayern Munich.

Another positive statistic for the Lazio faithful to take into this clash is that manager Sarri has never lost in any of his nine meetings with his previous employers.

Team News

Empoli could be without Francesco Caputo again here after he missed the trip to Torino following his first-half withdrawal against Lecce the week previous.

Given Empoli's scoring woes, losing Caputo makes matters even worse, as he has netted three of their 10 league goals this season, making him the club's top scorer.

Viktor Kovalenko also missed the trip to Torino after picking up an issue the week before, so the Ukrainian is likely to join Bartosz Bereszynski and Giuseppe Pezzella on the sidelines.

Lazio will be without Manuel Lazzari after his straight red card in the late stages of their defeat to Inter on Sunday.

That means at full-back, despite his costly error, Marusic is set to start again, with ex-Empoli man Elseid Hysaj likely to come in to face his former club.

Elsewhere in defence, Alessio Romagnoli is a doubt for this one with injury, while young winger Gustav Isaksen will miss out with a thigh problem.

Luis Alberto could return to the starting XI after Sarri revealed he was only a substitute against Inter as a precaution against fatigue.

Empoli possible starting lineup:
Berisha; Ebuehi, Ismajli, Luperto, Cacace; Marin, Grassi, Maleh, Fazzini; Cambiaghi, Cancellieri

Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Hysaj, Casale, Gila, Marusic; Guendouzi, Luis Alberto, Kamada; Felipe Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni

We say: Empoli 0-1 Lazio

Lazio's poor form means while they may be slight favourites for this one, it could be a much closer outing than Sarri would prefer.

Hosts Empoli are in the midst of a rut though, and while two of their three wins this season came against Fiorentina and Napoli, this will be a tough task, especially with Caputo potentially out injured.


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