Serie A

Napoli vs. Empoli to finish off matchday 32

Napoli are looking for three points against Empoli as they continue to chase the Scudetto

Matchday 32 in Serie A Enilive will come to an end at the Maradona, where Napoli are set to face Empoli. The Partenopei have alternated between drawing and winning in their last five matches, and, after their 1-1 draw with Bologna, are hoping to find the kind of consistency required to win the Scudetto come the end of the season. Third-bottom Empoli, who drew 0-0 at home to Cagliari last time out, need points to try and escape the relegation zone.

HEAD TO HEAD

Napoli and Empoli are equal in their last 20 Serie A encounters: eight wins each and four draws. The Neapolitans won 1-0 in the reverse fixture on last 20 October, after losing both games against the Tuscans last season (both 0-1). The last draw between Napoli and Empoli in Serie A dates back to 13 September 2015 (2-2 at the Castellani); since then, there have been seven wins for the Neapolitans and five wins for the Tuscans in 12 league matches. Empoli have won two of their last three away games against Napoli in Serie A (L1), having won just one of their first eight away games against the Neapolitans in the top-flight (D1 L6).

DID YOU KNOW?

After a run of seven consecutive league wins, Napoli have won just two of their last nine Serie A games (D6 L1); since the start of February 2025, in fact, no team has drawn more matches than the Neapolitans in the Big-5 European Leagues in that time (6, equal with Everton). Napoli have conceded exactly one goal in each of their last five home league games, after conceding just six goals in their first 10 games at the Maradona in Serie A this season, keeping six clean sheets. Empoli have gone 16 games in a row without a win in Serie A (D5 L11), equalling their longest such streak in the competition (also 16 between December 2021 and April 2022, under Aurelio Andreazzoli). After draws against Como and Cagliari, Empoli could draw three games in a row in Serie A for the first time since August and September 2022 (a run of four in that case). Considering only the first halves of this league season, Napoli would be 2nd in the standings (52 points, level with Lazio) and Empoli 9th (41, level with Bologna); instead, based on the 2nd halves, the Neapolitans would occupy 7th place (49 points, level with Milan) while Empoli would be last in the standings (19 points).

PLAYERS

Romelu Lukaku has been involved in four goals in four games against Empoli in Serie A (3 goals and 1 assist), including a brace on 23 April 2023 with Inter. The Belgian striker, who has 11 goals and eight assists in the league this season, could be involved in at least 20 goals in a season between Serie A and the Premier League for the first time since 2020/21 (24 goals and 11 assists in that case with Inter). Lorenzo Colombo's first of 14 goals in Serie A was scored against Napoli on 31 August 2022 at the Maradona while playing for Lecce. 79% of his goals in the top-flight have come away from home (11/14), the highest ratio in Serie A history among players with at least 14 goals scored in total.

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: Di Lorenzo, Anguissa (Napoli). Cautioned: Henderson, Cacace (Empoli); Olivera (Napoli)

REFEREE

FABBRI (BACCINI – LO CICERO) IV: RAPUANO, VAR: PEZZUTO, AVAR: AURELIANO

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A

Monza-Napoli (Saturday 19 April, 18.00 CEST) Empoli-Venezia (Sunday 20 April, 15.00 CEST) (Photo Getty Images)