Serie A

Empoli v Frosinone, relegation playoff

Empoli and Frosinone, level on 31 points, play to distance themselves from Udinese, who are third bottom on 29

The Castellani Computer Gross Arena is the venue of the highly delicate game between Empoli and Frosinone. With just four matches remaining, both teams are tied on 31 points (along with Verona), dangerously close to Udinese's 29 points, which currently place them in the relegation zone. The Tuscans have alternated between winning and losing in their last four matches. In their final three matches, they will face Lazio, Udinese and Roma. Meanwhile the Ciociari, who beat Salernitana last time out, are set to face Inter, Monza and Udinese.

DID YOU KNOW?

Frosinone are the only team in Serie A this season still without an away win (D6 L11); the last two teams to end a Serie A season without a win away from home were Catania and Parma in 2007-08. Empoli have won their last two home games in Serie A against Torino and Napoli, as many home wins as in their previous 15 games at the Castellani this season (D4 L9); they have not managed three wins in a row at home in Serie A since May 2023.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Empoli have only won one of their five matches against Frosinone in Serie A, suffering three defeats (D1), including in the reverse fixture (2-1 in November). Overall, the Ciociari have scored an average of exactly two goals per game in these matches. Empoli's only win against Frosinone in Serie A came in their last home match in March 2019 (2-1, goals by Caputo and Pajac for the Azzurri, Valzania for the visitors); on that occasion too, the Azzurri started the matchday in 17th place in the standings.

PLAYERS

M'Baye Niang (299) is one game away from 300 appearances in the big five European leagues. Indeed, among the 10 teams he has played with in these competitions, Empoli are the one with which he boasts his best min/goals ratio - a goal every 137 minutes. Elia Caprile is the goalkeeper who has made the most saves in Serie A in 2024 (57), recording a save percentage of 74%. Among players born from 2003 onwards who have scored this season, only Jude Bellingham (17 goals) has scored more goals than Matías Soulé (11, level with Florian Wirtz and Benjamin Sesko) in the big five European leagues in 2023-24 .

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: none Cautioned: Grassi, Luperto, Pezzella (Empoli); Barrenechea, Mazzitelli, Oyono, Zortea (Frosinone)

REFEREE

Doveri (Di Iorio-Perrotti) IV: Ayroldi, VAR: Irrati, AVAR: Marini

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A TIM

Lazio-Empoli (Sunday 12 May, 12:30 CEST) Frosinone-Inter (Friday 10 May, 20:45 CEST) (Photo LaPresse)