Roma vs Empoli Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Italian Serie A
THE FACTS
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
When is Roma vs Empoli on and what time does it start? Roma vs Empoli will take place on Sunday 17th September, 2023 – 19:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Roma vs Empoli? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Roma vs Empoli on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Serie A matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Roma vs Empoli
Where can I stream Roma vs Empoli in the UK? If Roma vs Empoli is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
ROMA
Jose Mourinho has entered into the dreaded third Mourinho season at a club and the general theme is as expected as Roma start badly with Mourinho sniping at his own board for a lack of investment; mainly due to the fact he had a net spend of around £80 million in his first summer. The Portuguese did manage to add Romelu Lukaku before the deadline and the Belgian will be looking to reignite his career at Stadio Olimpico.
Roma began their disappointing start to the season with a surprise 2-2 draw at home to Salernitana. They followed that up by suffering a 2-1 defeat away to Hellas Verona; a side that needed a relegation playoff to avoid the drop just a few months ago. Then, before the international break, they suffered 2-1 loss at home to ten man AC Milan.
EMPOLI
Paolo Zanetti took over from Aurelio Andreazzoli at the start of last season and produced Empoli’s second successive 14th placed finish in Serie A. Gli Azzurri are expected to battle against relegation once again this season but they have made some impressive additions. The concern will be a stagnation and failure to improve under Zanetti leaves very little room below them between themselves and the bottom three.
The Florence based club began the 2023/24 campaign with a 2-1 defeat at home to Cittadella in the first round of the Coppa Italia. In the league, they have suffered three successive defeats without scoring and begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting rock-bottom. They lost to Hellas Verona on the opening day before back-to-back 2-0 losses against Monza and Juventus.
THE TEAM NEWS
ROMA
Jose Mourinho will have to deal with an injury to club captain Lorenzo Pellegrini as well as the likes of Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla with Leonardo Spinazzola also a doubt.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Llorente; Celik, Cristante, Paredes, Aouar, Zalewski; Belotti, Lukaku
UNAVAILABLE: Pellegrini (Injured), Abraham (Injured), Kumbulla (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Spinazzola (Injured)
EMPOLI
Empoli remain without summer signings duo Elia Caprile, who arrived on loan from Napoli, and Daniel Maldini, who signed on a temporary basis from AC Milan.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Berisha; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz, Luperto, Pezzella; Fazzini, Marin, Maleh; Baldanzi, Caputo, Cambiaghi
UNAVAILABLE: Caprile (Injured), Maldini (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Backing a Jose Mourinho side in the early stages of his dreaded third season is always a risky bet. However, Roma will have to win at some stage in these opening months and this one seems as a good a time as any. They have the home advantage and Lukaku will likely make his first start as they come up against an Empoli side that are beginning to become one of the favourites to be relegated this season. A dull and still toxic Roman win seems likely.
TIP: ROMA TO WIN
