EMPOLI NEWS

Genoa fires Ballardini as coach after 1 win in 12 matches

Genoa has fired coach Davide Ballardini after just one win in 12 league matches this season

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Guglielmo Vicario - Concedes twice versus Genoa Vicario had five saves, drew one fouls and gave up two goals in Friday's 2-2 draw with Genoa.

Impact Vicario had another good showing and stopped a bunch of shots but once again paid the price for the leakiness of his back-line. He has surrendered 23 goals, made 44 saves and kept two cleans sheets in 12 matches. Empoli will face Verona away after the break.

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mattia Viti - Fares well against Genoa Viti had three blocks, two interceptions and two clearances and won 12 duels in Friday's 2-2 draw with Genoa.

Impact Viti was by far the busiest defender for his team in this one, but they ended up giving up two goals anyway. He has started in half the matches thus far as the coach has rotated all his center-backs. He has tallied eight tackles, eight interceptions, 28 clearances and 11 blocks in six appearances. Empoli will face Verona away after the break.

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Leo Stulac - Delivers four crosses in Genoa game Stulac sent in four crosses (zero accurate), had two interceptions and won one of two tackles and two duels in Friday's 2-2 draw with Genoa.

Impact Stulac was picked over Samuele Ricci in this one and paced his side in crosses, but he lacked precision. He has logged one goal, two assists, six chances and 13 crosses in nine games (three starts). He has some appeal as the top set-piece taker when on the pitch. Empoli will face Verona away after the break.

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Liam Henderson - Serviceable against Genoa Henderson took one off-target shot, sent in four crosses (one accurate), created one scoring chance and drew one foul in Friday's 2-2 draw with Genoa.

Impact Henderson once again started over Nedim Bajrami and had a decent but unspectacular performance, picking up a few stats across the board. He is more of a tactical weapon than a fantasy asset. He has tallied one assist, 15 shots, 14 chances created and 36 shots in 12 appearances (eight starts). Empoli will face Verona away after the break.

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Fabiano Parisi - Provides assist against Genoa Parisi sent in one inaccurate cross, created one scoring chance, drew two fouls and picked up an assist in 31 minutes in Friday's 2-2 draw with Genoa.

Impact Parisi provided a spark off the bench and set up Szymon Zurkowski's long-range attempt after ripping off a great run through the middle. He has not played much thus far since he missed the early part of the season due to a previous injury. He will challenge Riccardo Marchizza going forward. Empoli will face Verona away after the break.

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Szymon Zurkowski - Dazzling against Genoa Zurkowski created one chance, won seven duels, scored a goal and provided an assist in Friday's 2-2 draw with Genoa.

Impact Zurkowski provided a key contribution off the bench for the second game in a row as he found Federico Di Francesco in the box after escaping down the right flank and scored the second goal for his side with a belter from distance. The two recent showings could help gain minutes over Nicolas Haas or Filippo Bandinelli. He has posted 11 shots, three chances created, two crosses and 12 tackles in 11 games (five starts). Empoli will face Verona away after the break.

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Federico Di Francesco - Scores against Genoa Di Francesco took three shots (one on target), sent in two crosses (one accurate), created one chance and scored a goal in Friday's 2-2 draw with Genoa.

Impact Di Francesco tied the game early in the second half with an easy shot from the middle of the box. He has bagged three goals in the past six starts, adding 12 shots, four chances created and eight crosses. Empoli will face Verona away after the break.

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Andrea Pinamonti - Underwhelming against Genoa Pinamonti took three shots (zero on target), created one scoring chance, drew two fouls and won seven duels in Friday's 2-2 draw with Genoa.

Impact Pinamonti paced his team in shots alongside Federico Di Francesco, but he missed the target in all three occasions and did not contribute in other areas. He has posted four goals, 30 shots, five chances created and eight crosses in 11 matches. Empoli will face Verona away after the break.

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Żurkowski shines for Empoli in 2-2 draw with Genoa

Substitute Szymon Żurkowski set up one goal then scored another for Empoli in a 2-2 draw with relegation-threatened Genoa in Serie A

NOVEMBER 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

MATCHDAY: Bilbao hosts Cadiz; Southampton plays Villa in PL

Athletic Bilbao hosts Cádiz aiming for a win that would keep it in touch with the Spanish league’s top-four spots

NOVEMBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Federico Di Francesco - Relatively quiet against Sassuolo Di Francesco (thigh) took one shot on target, created one scoring chance and sent in one inaccurate cross in Sunday's 2-1 win over Sassuolo.

Impact Di Francesco got the nod right away after missing two games with a thigh injury, but he did not have a great performance in this one. He has started in the past five matches where he was available, notching two goals, eight shots, three chances created and six crosses. Empoli will face Genoa at home Friday.

NOVEMBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Simone Romagnoli - Plays three minutes versus Sassuolo Romagnoli (thigh) had one clearance and four passes while subbing in late in Sunday's 2-1 win over Sassuolo.

Impact Romagnoli returned quickly from a thigh strain and will resume competing for the starting job with Ardian Ismajli, Lorenzo Tonelli and Sebastiano Luperto. He has posted seven tackles, three interceptions, 17 clearances and nine blocks in six games, with one clean sheet. Empoli will face Genoa at home Friday.

NOVEMBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Samuele Ricci - Eligible to face Genoa Ricci served his suspension in Sunday's 2-1 win over Genoa.

Impact Ricci will most likely be back in the lineup in Friday's home game over Genoa. He has always started over Leo Stulac when available. He has posted four shots, three chances created, four crosses and 16 tackles in nine games, scoring once.

NOVEMBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Petar Stojanovic - Suspended for Genoa game Stojanovic sent in five crosses (zero accurate), won five of four tackles, drew one foul and picked up his fifth yellow card in Sunday's 2-1 win over Genoa.

Impact Stojanovic had a pretty good performance at both ends, but he will be forced to sit out one game due to yellow-card accumulation. The coach could field his backup Riccardo Fiamozzi or adapt Ardian Ismajli to the right-back position in Friday's home game against Genoa.

NOVEMBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Simone Romagnoli - Could return against Sassuolo Romagnoli (thigh) has improved quickly and will be called up for Sunday's match against Sassuolo, coach Aurelio Andreazzoli announced.

Impact Romagnoli has returned earlier than expected from a thigh strain, missing only two games. Empoli has had inconsistent selection in the defense and has alternated all five center-backs, so it is uncertain whether Romagnoli will get the nod right away. He has featured in five games so far, tallying 16 clearances, nine blocks, seven tackles and one clean sheet.

OCTOBER 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Federico Di Francesco - Will return against Sassuolo Di Francesco has recovered from his minor injury and will be an option Sunday versus Sassuolo, coach Aurelio Andreazzoli announced.

Impact Di Francesco sat out the past two matches due to a muscular injury of uncertain nature. He is back for this one and will compete with Patrick Cutrone for the starting job next to Andrea Pinamonti. He has posted two goals, nine shots, five chances created and nine crosses in six games.

OCTOBER 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ardian Ismajli - Notches three interceptions versus Inter Ismajli had one block, seven clearances and three interceptions and drew one foul in Wednesday's 0-2 loss to Inter.

Impact Ismajli put up good numbers in the back as Inter had the upper hand in this one. He returned to the XI, alongside Sebastiano Luperto, in the past two matches after sitting for four in a row. He has recorded six tackles, 14 interceptions, 30 clearances and five blocks in seven games, with one clean sheets. Empoli will face Sassuolo away Sunday.

OCTOBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sebastiano Luperto - Busy in Inter game Luperto had tow blocks, two interceptions and four clearances and won three duels in Wednesday's 0-2 loss to Inter.

Impact Luperto filled the stat-sheet as the Empoli defense was under heavy pressure for most of the game. He has appears to have won the starting job back from Mattia Viti as he got the nod in the past two matches after four in a row on the bench. He has posted seven tackles, 11 interceptions, 31 clearances and four blocks, with one clean sheet. Empoli will face Sassuolo away Sunday.

OCTOBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Szymon Zurkowski - Physical versus Inter Zurkowski won 11 duels and one of three tackles, drew three fouls and had four successful take-on in Wednesday's 0-2 loss to Inter.

Impact Zurkowski put up numbers in the peripheral stats thanks to an energetic showing. He has started in five out of nine Serie A games, registering nine shots, two chances, ten tackles and 11 interceptions. Empoli will face Sassuolo away Sunday.

OCTOBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Andrea Pinamonti - Draws four fouls versus Inter Pinamonti won nine duels, drew four fouls, took one off-target shot and sent in one inaccurate cross in Wednesday's 0-2 loss to Inter.

Impact Pinamonti had a muscular display but that did not translate into many offensive stats as Empoli got severely outplayed in this one. He has posted three goals, 24 shots, and eight crosses in nine games, establishing himself as the top striker on the team. Empoli will face Sassuolo away Sunday.

OCTOBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nedim Bajrami - Delivers seven crosses against Inter Bajrami sent in seven crosses (two accurate), created two scoring chances and won one tackle and one duel in Wednesday's 0-2 loss to Inter.

Impact Bajrami returned to the XI after three matches where the coach had preferred more defensive options and was the only Empoli attacker to salvage a decent line, mostly because of corner kicks. He has tallied two goals, one assist, 16 chances created and 53 crosses in ten matches (six starts). Empoli will face Sassuolo away Sunday.

OCTOBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Guglielmo Vicario - Superb despite loss versus Inter Vicario had seven saves, one clearance and one accurate keeper-sweeper and gave up two goals in Wednesday's 0-2 loss to Inter.

Impact Vicario had a strong showing and prevented the score from getting out of hand with multiple difficult saves throughout the game. He mostly pays the price for the aggressive style of Empoli and their shoddy defense as his performances have mostly been excellent. He has kept two clean sheets, made 34 saves and allowed 20 goals in ten matches. Empoli will face Sassuolo away Sunday.

OCTOBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sassuolo wins 2-1 at Juventus on Lopez goal in stoppage time

Massimilano Allegri’s 200th match in charge of Juventus has ended in defeat as Sassuolo scored late to snatch a 2-1 victory in Turin in Serie A

OCTOBER 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Samuele Ricci - Sent off against Inter Ricci was shown a straight red card in the 52nd minute of Wednesday's defeat against Inter for a foul on Nicolo Barella. He took a shot, created a chance and won one of two tackles...

Impact Ricci will be suspended for Sunday's clash against Sassuolo. Szymon Zurkowski or Leo Stulac could replace him in defensive midfield for the game.

OCTOBER 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE