EMPOLI NEWS

Federico Di Francesco - Will stay out for Inter clash Di Francesco is dealing with a minor muscular problem, but he will remain on the mend for Wednesday's game versus Inter, coach Aurelio Andreazzoli announced.

Impact Di Francesco will sit out the second game in a row as the coaching staff will err on the side of caution. The gaffer stated that Nedim Bajrami will start in this one, likely over Patrick Cutrone, to fill in for Di Francesco.

OCTOBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Samuele Ricci - Excels defensively against Salernitana Ricci (thigh) won two of three tackles, drew two fouls and had four interceptions and two clearances in Saturday's 4-2 win over Salernitana.

Impact Ricci worked his way after missing one game and had a strong showing in the passive phase, but Empoli still gave up two goals. He has scored once and notched 14 tackles, 16 interceptions and eight clearanes in eight matches. Empoli will host Inter Wednesday.

OCTOBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ardian Ismajli - Scores own goal in victory Ismajli made five interceptions, four clearances and scored an own goal in Saturday's 4-2 win over Salernitana.

Impact Ismajli was unlucky as Grigoris Kastanos's shot hit the post and deflected in off the defender. He also lead his side in interceptions with five and made four clearances. His next match is against Inter Milan on October 27.

OCTOBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Guglielmo Vicario - Makes four saves in victory Vicario made four saves while allowing two goals and made two clearances in Saturday's 4-2 win against Salernitana.

Impact Vicario did brilliantly well to save Milan Djuric's second half header to preserve his sides two goal advantage. He now has 27 saves with 18 goals conceded and has kept two clean sheets this season. He will face Inter Milan on October 27 next.

OCTOBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nicolas Haas - Sets up goal against Salernitana Haas took one shot (one on target), created a chance and provided an assist in Saturday's 4-2 victory over Salernitana.

Impact Haas played a clever through pass to set up Patrick Cutrone's goal in the 11th minute. It's his second assist this season. He was also busy defensively, making five tackles (winning four), two clearances and winning seven duels. His next match is against Inter Milan on October 27.

OCTOBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Filippo Bandinelli - Registers assist against Salernitana Bandinelli delivered two crosses (one accurate), created four chances and assisted a goal in Saturday's 4-2 win over Salernitana.

Impact Bandinelli lead his side in chances created and assisted the opening goal of the match. It's his first assist of the season to go with one goal this campaign. He's started five matches this season but hasn't started back-to-back matches since September 11. He'll hope to break that trend on October 27 against Inter Milan.

OCTOBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Patrick Cutrone - Scores a goal in win Cutrone took four shots (two on target), created a chance and scored in Saturday's 4-2 victory against Salernitana.

Impact Curtrone doubled his sides lead in the 11th minute, slotting home from Nicolas Haas's clever pass. It's his first goal for the club. It's also his first start since September 19th. He'll hope the goal grants him the opportunity to retain his place in the starting XI for the October 27 match against Inter Milan.

OCTOBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Andrea Pinamonti - Scores brace against Salernitana Pinamonti took five shots (two on target), delivered two crosses (zero accurate) and scored two goals in Saturday's 4-2 victory over Salernitana.

Impact Pinamonti opened the scoring in the 2nd minute from Filippo Bandinelli's pass and scored a penalty just before halftime after being brought down by a late challenge. He now has three goals in eight appearances (five starts). He faces Inter Milan next on October 27.

OCTOBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Late goals see Milan beat 9-man Bologna 4-2 to go top

Late goals from Zlatan Ibrahimović and Ismaël Bennacer spared AC Milan’s blushes as it scraped a 4-2 win in Serie A at nine-man Bologna

OCTOBER 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Federico Di Francesco - Scratched for Salernitana game Di Francesco is unavailable for Saturday's match versus Salernitana due to an ailment that will be assessed after the match, coach Aurelio Andreazzoli announced.

Impact Di Francesco was expected to continue starting, but he did not even make the game-day squad list in this one and will have to be assessed ahead of the midweek round. Patrick Cutrone is filling in for him. Leonardo Mancuso will be the top offensive backup.

OCTOBER 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Samuele Ricci - Expected back against Salernitana Ricci (thigh) should be available for Saturday's game against Salernitana, Sky Italy reports.

Impact Ricci picked up a thigh problem during the second break and was unavailable last week even though the coach had announced he was fine. With one more week to recover, he should at least be part of the game-day squad list. He has scored once and tallied two chances created, three shots and 11 tackles in seven games.

OCTOBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Simone Romagnoli - Diagnosed with strain Romagnoli suffered a grade one strain of the flexor muscles in the right thigh, Empoli announced.

Impact Romagnoli bowed out early in the past game and will miss the upcoming stretch of matches and return after the third international break. Lorenzo Tonelli and Ardian Ismajli will compete to take over the position. The former subbed in last week.

OCTOBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

8 for 8: Napoli extends perfect start with Osimhen's header

Victor Osimhen soared in for a towering header nine minutes from time and Napoli extended its perfect start to Serie A with a 1-0 win over Torino

OCTOBER 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Petar Stojanovic - Gritty against Atalanta Stojanovic won nine duels and four of five tackles and had four clearances and two interceptions in Sunday's 1-4 loss to Atalanta.

Impact Stojanovic had a decent outing in the back at a personal level, but Empoli gave up four goals to a mighty offense. He has tallied seven chances created, 22 crosses, 31 tackles and 11 clearances in eight starts. Empoli will face Salernitana away Saturday.

OCTOBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Liam Henderson - Delivers eight crosses against Atalanta Henderson took two shots (one on target), sent in eight crosses (one accurate), drew two fouls and won two duels in Sunday's 1-4 loss to Atalanta.

Impact Henderson was picked over Nadem Bajrami in this one and paced his team in crosses, but he was not very accurate. He has notched nine shots, seven chances created, 23 crosses and three tackles in eight games (five starts). Empoli will face Salernitana away Saturday.

OCTOBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mattia Viti - Saddled with own goal against Atalanta Viti had three blocks and five clearances, won one tackle and scored an own goal in Sunday's 1-4 loss to Atalanta.

Impact Viti struggled to keep up with Atalanta like the rest of his teammates in this one, and inadvertently deflected a shot into his own net. He has drawn four starts in a row, recording five interceptions, 19 clearances and one block, with one clean sheet. Empoli will face Salernitana away Saturday.

OCTOBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Leo Stulac - Provides assist against Atalanta Stulaco took one off-target shot, created two scoring chances, drew three fouls and picked up an assist in Sunday's 1-4 loss to Atalanta.

Impact Stulac filled in for the injured Samuele Ricci and set up Federico Di Francesco with a timely through ball. He has seen consistent minutes even though he has started just once thus far. He has logged one goal, two assists, five chances created and four crosses in six matches. Empoli will face Salernitana away Saturday.

OCTOBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Federico Di Francesco - Scores against Atalanta Di Francesco took one shot on target, drew four fouls, created one chance and scored a goal in Saturday's 1-4 loss to Atalanta.

Impact Di Francesco bagged what ended up being a consolation goal with a quality attempt from outside the box. He has started in the past four matches, hitting the net twice. He has logged nine shots, five chances and nine crosses in six seasonal appearances. Empoli will face Salernitana away Saturday.

OCTOBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nedim Bajrami - Delivers three crosses against Atalanta Bajrami sent in three inaccurate crosses and won one duel in 29 minutes in Sunday's 1-4 loss to Atalanta.

Impact Bajrami did not get the start following international duties and did not make an impact after subbing in. He will most likely return to the XI in Saturday's road game against Salernitana. He has posted two goals, one assist, 14 chances created and 46 crosses in eight matches.

OCTOBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Samuele Ricci - Scratched versus Atalanta Ricci did not make the game-day squad list to face Atalanta Sunday.

Impact Ricci ended up on the stands despite the words by the coach in the pre-game presser. He will look to recover during the week. otherwise Leo Stulac will keep starting in Saturday's road game versus Salernitana.

OCTOBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Andrea Pinamonti - Quiet versus Atalanta Pinamonti (thigh) took one shot on target, sent in one inaccurate cross, drew two fouls and won three duels in Sunday's 1-4 loss to Atalanta.

Impact Pinamonti managed to play despite being questionable coming into the match, but he had no impact despite playing full minutes. He seems to have earned the trust of the coach since he has started four matches in a row. He has scored once and added 18 shots, three chances created and five crosses. Empoli will face Salernitana away Saturday.

OCTOBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Guglielmo Vicario - Pummeled by Atalanta Vicario had four saves and one clearance and gave up four goals in Sunday's 1-4 loss to Atalanta.

Impact Vicario had a rough day at the office since his defense was overwhelmed by Atalanta in this one, and he could not do much more on any of the four goals. He has surrendered 16 goals, made 23 saves and kept two clean sheets in eight matches. Empoli will face Salernitana away Saturday.

OCTOBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Simone Romagnoli - Comes off injured against Atalanta Romagnoli was subbed out of Sunday's defeat against Atalanta in the 41st minute after suffering an injury. He made two blocks in the match before being taken off.

Impact It is unclear whether Romagnoli will be forced to miss additional game time due to his injury. Lorenzo Tonelli could fill in for him in central defense next weekend against Salernitana if necessary.

OCTOBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Samuele Ricci - Available versus Atalanta Ricci has practiced regularly after picking up a thigh issue with Italy U-21, coach Aurelio Andreazzoli informed.

Impact Ricci did not have lingering problems after returning early from international duties. It appears likely that he will continue starting. He has notched one goal, three shots, 11 tackles and 12 interceptions in seven games. His backup is Leo Stulac.

OCTOBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Andrea Pinamonti - Likely to be available versus Atalanta Pinamonti is fine after subbing off due to a thigh injury in the past game, coach Aurelio Aureazzoli announced.

Impact Pinamonti missed some practice time and took some tests, which came back negative. Given the situation, he might cede the starting job to Leonardo Mancuso or Patrick Cutrone. He has scored once and added 17 shots, three chances created and four crosses in six matches (three starts).

OCTOBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE