Empoli Team News Page 3 - Soccer

Youssef Maleh - Questionable for Lazio fixture Maleh continues to deal with a lingering thigh problem and might not be available versus Lazio, Il Tirreno reported.

Impact Maleh was available but didn't play in the previous game and has been managed in training throughout the week, which doesn't bode well for his prospective usage. Two among Liam Henderson, Faustino Anjorin and Jacopo Fazzini will start in this one. Nicholas Haas would have better chances of featuring if Maleh was out.

OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE

Jacopo Fazzini - DNP versus Fiorentina Fazzini (thigh) didn't come off the bench in Sunday's nil-nil tie against Fiorentina.

Impact Fazzini was said to be fully healthy, but the coach went with Faustino Anjorin from the get-go and made more conservative choices as the game progressed. He was a standout performer earlier in the season, so he should find his way back into the XI sooner rather than later but will face more competition than earlier on.

SEPTEMBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Youssef Maleh - Unused against Fiorentina Maleh (thigh) didn't play in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Fiorentina.

Impact Maleh was an option but wasn't deployed as he wasn't 100 percent yet and the other Empoli midfielders have been solid so far. He'll challenge primarily Liam Henderson from here on out.

SEPTEMBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

EMPOLI-FIORENTINA 0-0 | HIGHLIGHTS | The Tuscan derby ends in a draw | Serie A 2024/25

SEPTEMBER 29 • YOUTUBE

Youssef Maleh - Fit for Fiorentina fixture Maleh (thigh) "is available, but we'll have to see how much he can play," coach Roberto D'Aversa relayed.

Impact Maleh avoided serious injuries and will be back after skipping one fixture but is likely to begin on the bench since Liam Henderson and Faustino Anjorin have been solid and Jacopo Fazzini (hip) is also returning. He has appeared in four matches (three starts), registering four tackles (three won), three shots (one on target) and three interceptions.

SEPTEMBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Jacopo Fazzini - Will come back versus Fiorentina Fazzini (hip) "is 100 percent recovered," coach Roberto D'Aversa announced.

Impact Fazzini will return after missing two matches and might make the XI right away in lieu of Faustino Anjorin considering the gaffer's remarks. He has tallied three shots (one on target), two key passes, and seven tackles (three won) in three appearances.

SEPTEMBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Jacopo Fazzini - Will come back versus Fiorentina Fazzini (hip) "is 100 percent recovered," coach Roberto D'Aversa announced.

SEPTEMBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Saba Sazonov - Undergoes surgery Sazonov had his right ACL surgically repaired, Empoli announced.

Impact Sazonov seemed to have initially escaped a tear, but further tests revealed that he necessitated to go under the knife and will miss months. He had played just two minutes beforehand. Saba Goglichidze, Mattia De Sciglio and Luca Marianucci will alternate in the spot next to centerpieces Mattia Viti and Ardian Ismajli going forward.

SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE

Esposito makes Empoli dream | Top 5 Goals | Round 5 | Serie A 2024/25

SEPTEMBER 26 • YOUTUBE

Youssef Maleh - Dealing with thigh issue Maleh missed Friday's 2-0 win over Empoli due to a right adductor problem, Tuttomercatoweb relayed.

Impact Maleh made the trip but was ruled out late, which suggests the injury might not be too significant. He'll be assessed throughout the week to see if he can recover for Sunday's home game versus Fiorentina. Faustino Anjorin replaced him in the midfield. Jacopo Fazzini (thigh) could also be in the mix for the next bout.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Ola Solbakken - Comes off the bench against Cagliari Solbakken (thigh) had two clearances and six touches in 17 minutes in Friday's 2-0 win versus Cagliari.

Impact Solbakken (thigh) saw some action when the game was already sealed after missing one match due to a thigh issue. Sebastiano Esposito has fared well in relief, so he'll have to fare well to be a regular starter.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Mattia Viti - Spotless verssu Cagliari Viti registered one tackle (one won), eight clearances, three blocks and three interceptions in Friday's 2-0 victory against Cagliari.

Impact Viti was under pressure throughout the game, and especially in the second half, but responded well and filled it up like the rest of the Empoli defense. He has recorded 18 tackles, five interceptions and 25 clearances in five rounds, with three clean sheets.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Saba Goglichidze - Dependable in Empoli match Goglichidze had two tackles (one won), one block, four clearances and two interceptions in Friday's 2-0 victory over Cagliari.

Impact Goglichidze turned in another solid shift in the back and contributed across the board statistically. One of his main competitors Saba Sazonov just suffered a serious knee injury, so he'll have to fend off just Mattia De Sciglio to remain a regular. He has posted 12 clearances nine tackles and five interceptions in three games, contributing to two clean sheets.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Liam Henderson - Swings in six crosses versus Cagliari Henderson created two scoring chances and had six crosses (one accurate), one clearance and two corners in Friday's 2-0 victory over Cagliari.

Impact Henderson saw full minutes once again and did some damage offensively thanks to his set pieces, pacing his team in deliveries. He'll continue to have a prominent role while Jacopo Fazzini (thigh) and Szymon Zurkowski (ankle) are out. He has posted nine key passes, 16 crosses (seven accurate) and 10 clerances in five games.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Ardian Ismajli - Busy again versus Cagliari Ismajli had one tackle (one won), two interceptions, one block and 13 clearances in Friday's 2-0 win over Cagliari.

Impact Ismajli once again racked up stats while helping the Empoli defense keep the third clean sheet in five rounds. He has put up numbers in the process as he has registered 51 clearances, six blocks and six interceptions.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Giuseppe Pezzella - Dynamic in Cagliari tilt Pezzella created three scoring chances and generated one shot (zero on goal), five crosses (two accurate) and two corners in Friday's 2-0 win over Cagliari.

Impact Pezzella was a major weapon with his sprints down the wing and led his team in both deliveries and key passes. He has asserted himself as the clear top option at the position and has assisted once, adding six chances created, 23 crosses (five accurate) and 13 tackles in five games so far.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Tino Anjorin - Provides assist in Cagliari match Anjorin assisted once to go with one cross (zero accurate), two clearances and one chance created in Friday's 2-0 win against Cagliari.

Impact Anjorin benefitted from Jacopo Fazzini's (thigh) and Youssef Maleh's (thigh) absences to draw his first start and looked good. He sprung Lorenzo Colombo past the defense with a timely through ball to set up the first goal. He made a case for more minutes, but it'll hinge on the status of those ahead of him in the depth chart.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Sebastiano Esposito - Nets in Cagliari bout Esposito scored one goal to go with three shots (two on target), one tackle (zero won) and one block in Friday's 2-0 win over Cagliari.

Impact Esposito doubled his team's lead with a clinical finish after Simone Scuffet had denied his previous lovely effort from inside the box. It's his first goal of the season. Ola Solbakken (thigh) returned in this game, and the two will likely tussle for one spot up front in the next fixtures. He has logged 10 shots (four on target), three key passes and five crosses (one accurate) in five appearances (three starts).

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Lorenzo Colombo - Scores versus Cagliari Colombo scored one goal to go with three shots (two on target) in Friday's 2-0 win over Cagliari.

Impact Colombo didn't pick up many stats but made his touches count, as he opened the scoring by finishing with aplomb in front of the goalie after beating the offside trap. He's up to two goals, one assist, eight shots (three on target) and two key passes in five games.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Devis Vasquez - Keeps clean sheet versus Cagliari Vasquez made two saves and two clearances and allowed zero goals in Friday's 2-0 victory against Cagliari.

Impact Vasquez collected his third clean sheet in five matches and didn't have to do too much in the process, as Empoli controlled the game. He has surrendered two goals and made 15 saves so far. Next up is a meeting with Fiorentina next Sunday.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

CAGLIARI-EMPOLI 0-2 | HIGHLIGHTS | Colombo and Esposito seal huge win for Empoli | Serie A 2024/25

SEPTEMBER 20 • YOUTUBE

Empoli wins to record its best start in Serie A and Torino goes top with win at Verona

English midfielder Tino Anjorin has helped Empoli to its best ever start in Serie A

SEPTEMBER 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ola Solbakken - On bench to face Cagliari Solbakken (thigh) is on the bench for Friday's match against Cagliari.

Impact Solbakken has returned from injury after missing the club's last match, earning a spot on the bench in his return. He will look to see some time off the bench to test his legs, as he is still without a goal contribution in three appearances this season. The attacker will look to return to the starting XI in their next match, as he did start in the two matches prior to his injury.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Youssef Maleh - Late scratch for Cagliari game Maleh didn't make the game-day squad list to face Cagliari on Friday, La Gazzetta dello Sport informed.

Impact Maleh got hurt late in the week and won't be involved. He'll be better evaluated in the coming days. Faustino Anjorin is taking his place in the midfield, while Nicolas Haas is the top deputy on the bench.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Ola Solbakken - Could return versus Cagliari Solbakken (thigh) has practiced almost regularly after missing the Juventus clash, Sky Italy reported.

Impact Solbakken was sidelined for the past match due to muscle fatigue and some caution, but he might be back right away. In that event, he'd likely be eased off the bench. He has logged two shots (two on target), two key passes and two tackles in three appearances (two starts).

SEPTEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

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Empoli wins to record its best start in Serie A and Torino goes top with win at Verona