Riding high after their Coppa Italia triumph against Fiorentina, Empoli built on that momentum with a first-half surge to defeat Verona 4-1. This victory grants Roberto D’Aversa’s team an opportunity to achieve three consecutive competitive wins for the first time this season. Achieving this would break new ground, as the Blues have yet to secure back-to-back Serie A victories, with each of their previous three wins having been followed by draws.
To break this pattern, Empoli must secure consecutive top-flight wins against Torino for the first time since May 2016, following last season’s 3-2 home victory. A key challenge for the team is to enhance their recent performance at Stadio Carlo Castellani, where they have managed just one win in seven home league matches (D4, L2) this season—an underwhelming record for a team aiming to look upwards rather than nervously over their shoulder.
Torino suffered a 2-1 defeat to Empoli in the Coppa Italia earlier this season, marking the beginning of a stretch of 11 matches with only one competitive victory (D2, L8). Despite their recent struggles, the Bulls are just three points behind their opponents and could leapfrog them into the top half with a win. Scoring in ten straight head-to-head encounters should give them confidence, but maintaining that streak seems challenging given their current form, as Paolo Vanoli’s team has failed to score in five of their last six outings (D2, L4).
This goal drought includes their previous three away fixtures, though their 0-0 draw against Genoa ended a four-match losing streak on the road. Torino might need to focus on stronger starts, as they’ve conceded at least once in the first half of five of their last six away games, with four goals coming before the 30th minute.
Key players to monitor: Sebastiano Esposito might aim for an early advantage for Empoli, having netted his previous three goals before the 20th minute. In contrast, Torino’s Ché Adams tends to make his mark later in matches, with his last three club goals coming after the 60th minute.
Interesting statistic: Only one of Torino’s most recent seven matches featured both teams finding the net.
