Empoli vs Venezia Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Empoli started the season quite well but they have since collapsed towards almost inevitable Serie B relegation as they take on fellow strugglers Venezia in a huge game in Florence.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 20th April, 2025: UK – 2:00pm / US ET – 9:00am / US PT – 6:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
How to watch online: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
Empoli Preview: Empoli’s collapse
At the start of this season, following avoiding Serie A relegation on the final day of last season, Empoli started the campaign quite well under the management of former Benevento and Lecce boss Roberto D’Aversa but they have since crumbled into the bottom three.
Despite the fact they are a Coppa Italia semi-finalist, the Florence-based outfit come into this one on the back of yet another loss away to title challenging Napoli last weekend by three goals to nil due to a Scott McTominay brace as well as a Romelu Lukaku strike.
Venezia Preview: Venetian improvement
Coached by former Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco, who is often lambasted for his naïve and overly attacking style of football, Venezia appear to be heading for the same fate as his Frosinone side from last season whereby they defensively retreat far too late to avoid the drop.
That said, their defensive improvement of late has given the Venetians a real chance of survival in Serie A and they earned themselves a rare but much-needed victory over bottom-of-the-table Monza by a goal to nil thanks to a 72nd minute strike from substitute Daniel Fila.
Empoli Team News: Several injuries
Roberto D’Aversa is having to deal with several injury concerns ahead of the visit of Venezia this weekend. As well as several confirmed absentees, former Chelsea man Tino Anjorin is a doubt alongside Roma loanee Ola Solbakken.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Devis Vasquez; Goglichidze, Marianucci, Viti; Gyasi, Grassi, Henderson, Pezzella; Fazzini, Cacace; Esposito
Unavailable: Sazonov (Injured), Haas (Injured), Maleh (Injured), Zurkowski (Injured), Kouame (Injured), Pellegri (Injured)
Questionable: Ismajli (Injured), Solbakken (Injured), Anjorin (Injured)
Venezia Team News: Fila suspended
Last weekend’s aforementioned match winner Daniel Fila ended up getting himself sent off for a second bookable offence in second-half stoppage-time so the Czech striker is now missing through suspension for this weekend’s trip to Florence.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Radu; Marcandalli, Idzes, Cande; Zerbin, Kike Perez, Caviglia, Busio, Ellertsson; Oristanio, Gytkjaer
Unavailable: Svoboda (Injured), Crnigoj (Injured), Fila (Suspended)
Questionable: Stankovic (Injured), Schingtienne (Injured), Sagrado (Injured)
Empoli vs Venezia Prediction
In what has been a defensive and low-scoring season by recent Serie A standards, both Empoli and Venezia are among some of the lowest scorers in Italy’s top-flight, despite the entertaining and attacking principles that Di Francesco, as was ever thus, began the campaign with before realising they will go down with a whimper. Venezia have now conceded just three goals in their last seven matches and would have to be favoured to at least avoid defeat in this one.
Empoli vs Venezia Tip: Double chance – Venezia to win or draw & under 3.5 goals
