Empoli Team News Page 13 - Soccer

Matteo Cancellieri - Scores from the bench Cancellieri scored with his only shot in Friday's 3-1 win against Salernitana.

Impact Cancellieri was bought on for the final 12 minutes and left his mark on the game when he finished off a counter-attacking goal in stoppage time. The attacker has not started a game since mid-December and will hope that his well-taken goal will earn him more minutes on the pitch.

FEBRUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

M'Baye Niang - Scores and assists on debut Niang came off the bench to score a penalty and register an assist in Friday's 3-1 win against Salernitana.

Impact Niang entered the fray in the 70th minute and had a debut to remember, cooly slotting away his penalty before setting up Matteo Cancellieri's goal with a through ball. The striker scored eight times in 16 appearances in the Turkish Super Lig while at Adana Demirspor during the first half of the season.

FEBRUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Elia Caprile - Makes three saves Caprile made three saves and conceded once in Friday's 3-1 win over Salernitana.

Impact Caprile played his part in the victory, making an incredible save to stop Grigoris Kastanos' powerful drive from finding the top corner. The keeper has kept three clean sheets in eight games since recovering from the ankle injury that kept him out for the first half of the season. He next faces Fiorentina on Sunday.

FEBRUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Sebastian Walukiewicz - Eligible for Fiorentina game Walukiewicz served a one-game ban in Friday's 3-1 win over Salernitana.

Impact Walukiewicz will most likely be back in the XI versus Fiorentina on Sunday, with one between Bartosz Bereszynki and Liberato Cacace falling out of the formation and the other playing on the wing opposite Emmanuel Gyasi. He has tallied 12 tackles (eight won), 28 clearances and three interceptions in his last five games, with two clean sheets.

FEBRUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Razvan Marin - Out once again Marin (ankle) is out for Friday's contest against Salernitana.

Impact Marin remains sidelined, missing out on his second straight contest due to an ankle issue. Luckily for the club, this shouldn't affect too much, with the player mainly holding a spot on the bench as of recently, only getting two starts in the club's past eight matches. He will now hope to return next week and attempt to reclaim the starting role he once held at the start of the campaign.

FEBRUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Simone Bastoni - On bench Friday Bastoni (thigh) is on the bench for Friday's contest against Salernitana.

Impact Bastoni is finally making his return to the team sheet Friday, ending a five-match spell on the sidelines due to a thigh issue. He was only given a spot on the bench in his return and should be expected to remain in that spot moving forward, as he mainly has served as a rotational player this campaign, only starting three times in eight appearances.

FEBRUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Razvan Marin - Doubtful for Salernitana tilt Marin is likely to miss Friday's match versus Salernitana due to an ankle injury, La Nazione informed.

Impact Marin was a late scratch last week and is probably headed for another game on the stands as he hasn't done much in training throughout the week. He has mostly been a backup in the last two months, starting just twice. Jacopo Fazzini and Viktor Kovalenko would absorb his minutes behind the starters if he was indeed out.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Simone Bastoni - Probable for Salernitana match Bastoni (thigh) returned to full training and will likely return in Friday's game against Salernitana, Quotidiano Sportivo informed.

Impact Bastoni is poised to be back after missing five matches due to a thigh strain. He'll be an option either as a box-to-box or on the left wing, competing with Emmanuel Gyasi and Liberato Cacace in the second role. He didn't have a regular role before the injury, posting seven key passes, 20 crosses (six accurate) and 14 tackles in eight appearances (three starts).

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Mattia Destro - Comes off the bench against Genoa Destro (thigh) had one shot on target), one pass, and one tackle (zero won) in 19 minutes in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Genoa.

Impact Destro resumed getting minutes after sitting out three of the past four matches due to a muscular injury but didn't do much. He has better chances of getting game time while Francesco Caputo (ankle) is out, but he remains unlikely to be a regular. He has started just once in nine seasonal appearances, tallying seven shots (two on target), two key passes, and two interceptions.

FEBRUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Viktor Kovalenko - Creates one chance against Genoa Kovalenko (ribs) had one clearance, five touches, and one key pass in 19 minutes in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Genoa.

Impact Kovalenko returned after being shelved for a month but didn't have an impact. He'll try to supplant one of the three starters in the midfield, Alberto Grassi, Youssef Maleh, and Szymon Zurkowski, but they have been healthier and more reliable for the most part. He has scored and assisted once and added six shots (three on target) and seven chances created in ten showings (two starts).

FEBRUARY 6 • ROTOWIRE

Sebastian Walukiewicz - Booked for fifth time Walukiewicz won two of two tackled, had one interception, and three clearances in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Genoa and will miss one game due to yellow-card accumulation.

Impact Walukiewicz had a fine performance but will have to skip the next contest. The coach might decide to use Bartosz Bereszynski in the back since Lorenzo Tonelli hasn't played in months and Saba Goglichidze just joined.

FEBRUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Elia Caprile - One save in clean sheet Caprile kept a clean sheet while making a save during Saturday's 0-0 draw with Genoa.

Impact Caprile helped Empoli to a point by making one save during the match. The keeper has kept three clean sheets across his last seven Serie A starts while making 23 saves and conceding eight goals.

FEBRUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Szymon Zurkowski - Plays 71 minutes Zurkowski took two shots (one on goal) and created a chance during Saturday's match against Genoa.

Impact Zurkowski was held off the scoresheet before subbing off the pitch in the 71st minute of Saturday's match. Zurkowski has been impressive since returning from loan duty with four goals in his first three Serie A appearances.

FEBRUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Viktor Kovalenko - Back after four matches Kovalenko (ribs) is among the substitutes during Saturday's match against Genoa.

Impact Kovalenko has missed the last four matches entirely, but did start in his last match prior to the injury. Kovalenko has started just twice this season as backup option in midfield for Empoli.

FEBRUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Mattia Destro - Available as substitute Destro (thigh) is available from the bench for Saturday's match against Genoa.

Impact Destro has missed the last three matches entirely and hasn't played since December totaling just 43 minutes off the bench in the last two months. The forward has started only once this season as a peripheral figure at the club.

FEBRUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Francesco Caputo - No firm timetable yet Caputo (ankle) "has been out for 20 days, and we don't know whether he'll come back in a week or a month," Empoli president Fabrizio Corsi told La Nazione.

Impact Caputo will remain sidelined for Saturday's game versus Genoa and likely more fixtures due to a lingering ankle/foot injury. Alberto Cerri, Nicolo Cambiaghi, Matteo Cancellieri, and M'Baye Niang will shoulder the attack while he recovers.

FEBRUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Viktor Kovalenko - Likely for Genoa game Kovalenko (ribs) "isn't coming off a complicated injury, but he needs to return with the right mentality," coach Davide Nicola informed.

Impact Kovalenko has been ramping in training, and the gaffer suggested he would be available, most likely off the bench, for this one, although he didn't outright announce it. He has made the XI in two of his last four appearances, scoring and assisting once and adding four chances created, seven crosses (two accurate), and five tackles (two won). He'll be in the mix with Youssef Maleh, Szymon Zurkowski, Jacopo Fazzini, and Razvan Marin.

FEBRUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Mattia Destro - Expected back for Genoa game Destro (thigh) "has practiced with us" in the lead-up to Saturday's match versus Genoa, coach Davide Nicola announced.

Impact Destro should be back in the squad list after missing four of the last five matches because of a muscular injury. He has been a backup all season long, and Empoli added more strikers in January. He has logged two shots (one on target), one key pass, and one drawn foul in his last three appearances.

FEBRUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

M'Baye Niang - Heads back to Serie A Niang has moved to Empoli on a permanent deal from Adana Demirspor, the team announced.

Impact Niang returns to Italy after several years in France with Rennes, Bordeaux, and Auxerre and a season and a half in Turkey. He has put up good numbers this year, scoring eight times and providing two assists in 20 appearances. He'll be an extra option up front alongside Francesco Caputo, Alberto Cerri, Nicolo Cambiaghi, and Matteo Cancellieri.

JANUARY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Giuseppe Pezzella - Unused versus Juventus Pezzella (ankle) didn't play in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Juventus.

Impact Pezzella was back on the bench after an extended absence but didn't get minutes right away and might need some time to get into shape following a significant ankle injury. He'll compete with Liberato Cacace and Emmanuel Gyasi in their new scheme.

JANUARY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Advantage Inter in Serie A but 'IT WASN'T PRETTY!' - Marcotti | ESPN FC

JANUARY 29 • YOUTUBE

Nicolo Cambiaghi - Threatens versus Juventus Cambiaghi registered five shots (two on goal), eight crosses (two accurate) and one corner in Saturday's 1-1 draw versus Juventus.

Impact Cambiaghi had a busy outing in attack with his second-highest tally of shots in a game this season. He was unable to add a goal or assist to his solitary assist of the campaign but will continue to be a focal point for his side with Francesco Caputo (ankle) still injured.

JANUARY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Sebastiano Luperto - Huge at both ends Luperto assisted once to go with two shots (zero on goal), three crosses (zero accurate) and one chance created in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Juventus.

Impact Luperto won one tackle for the fourth consecutive game in addition to making five clearances, one block and five clearances on top of his first assist of the season. He has created four chances in his last four games compared to just three chances created in the prior 18, perhaps hinting at a growing responsibility to join the attack.

JANUARY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Tommaso Baldanzi - Scores as substitute Baldanzi scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal), four crosses (zero accurate) and four corners in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Juventus.

Impact Baldanzi started seven of Monza's first eight matches but has only started one of the past 14 as he has dealt with ankle and thigh injuries. Three shots across his last two appearances bode well after none in the previous four and he appears to be finding his pre-injury form.

JANUARY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Elia Caprile - Minimal production against Juventus Caprile registered two saves and allowed one goal in Saturday's 1-1 draw versus Juventus.

Impact Caprile recorded his first match with fewer than three saves in this one. An early red card for Arkadiusz Milik set the stage for Juventus to take only nine shots, their fewest in a match since a 1-1 draw with Inter in late November and that resulted in Caprile having a diminished day in goal.

JANUARY 28 • ROTOWIRE

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