Como vs. Empoli: three huge points up for grabs
The final international break of the season is over and Serie A Enilive is restarting with a key match in the race for safety between Como and Empoli, at the same time as Venezia vs. Bologna.
The home side have only won a single point in their last three after wins against Fiorentina and Napoli (defeats against Roma and Napoli, as well as a draw against Venezia). They need to win against third-bottom Empoli to extend their gap from the relegation zone. Empoli are in a rather different position, six points worse off than their opponents, and they must win to move up the table to escape 18th place. Safety is only three points away, but Empoli haven’t won since 8 December and they have only taken three points in their last 14 games.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Como and Empoli have never repeated the same result twice in a row in Serie A. In their seven previous meetings, there has been one win for the Lariani, three draws and three wins for the Toscani, including one in the reverse fixture (1-0 on November 4th). Empoli have won 67% of their Serie A away games against Como, two out of three (L1); among teams faced more than once on the road in the competition, this is their best win percentage against an opponent.
DID YOU KNOW?
Como have scored in each of their last six league games; the last time they went on a longer such streak was between February and April 1951 (eight matches in a row in that case). In their last eight league games at Sinigaglia (since mid-December), Como have earned 13 points (W4 D1); only five teams have picked up more points in Serie A home games in this period, while only two have scored more goals (Bologna 22 goals and Roma 18) than the Lariani (14) on their own patch. Empoli are winless in their last 14 Serie A games (D3 L11); across the big five European leagues, only are on a longer run without a victory (15) than the Toscani. Empoli have gained 14 points away from home and 8 at home in Serie A this season (+6); only Atalanta have a greater difference (+8) between points picked up on the road and points earned on home soil.
PLAYERS
Lucas da Cunha has been involved in four goals (three goals and one assist) in Serie A this season, but he has not had a hand in any at Sinigaglia yet. Among the players yet to be involved in any goals in home games in the current Serie A season, only Davide Frattesi and Marco Brescianini have been involved in more goals (both five) overall. Should he score, Lorenzo Colombo - who has failed to find the net in each of his last seven Serie A games - could overtake his overall tally of goals in a single top-flight season (five so far, as he did in 2022/23 for Lecce). Furthermore, only Matías Soulé (15) has netted more than the Empoli striker (14) among the players born from 2002 onwards in the last three Serie A seasons (since 2022/23).
DISCIPLINE
Suspended: Dele Alli, Nico Paz (Como) Cautioned: Moreno, Perrone, Strefezza, Fàbregas (Como); Cacace, Gyasi (Empoli)
REFEREE
MARIANI (PASSERI – IMPERIALE), IV: MARINELLI, VAR: FABBRI, AVAR: PATERNA
UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A
Monza-Como (Saturday 5 April, 15.00 CET) Empoli-Cagliari (Sunday 6 April, 15.00 CET) (Photo Getty Images)