Struggling Serie A champions Napoli and their Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen will this weekend travel to Stadio Carlo Castellani to face Empoli as they try to end their season on a high after losing the fight to retain the title won last year.
It will be a chance for Osimhen to add to his goals haul for Napoli even as he has fallen short of last season's tally partly due to his participation at the Africa Cup of Nations, injuries, and an inconsistent Napoli side knifed with coaching changes throughout the season.
Quick stats
- The hosts are 17th in Serie A with 28 points while Napoli are 8th on 49 points.
- In their last five games, Empoli have won one and lost four while Napoli have fared a bit better with one win, three draws, and a loss.
- Empoli have only scored 25 goals this season and conceded 48 for a -23 goal difference while Napoli have scored 50 and conceded 40 for a +10 goal difference.
Match preview
Empoli will continue without Nigerian defender Tyronne Ebuehi who would have relished the chance to take on his compatriot in Napoli, but is out for the rest of the season.
Ghanaian winger Emmanuel Gyasi will also miss out due to suspension while all others are available even though it looks like Empoli coach Davide Nicola will continue with Alberto Cerri in attack.
Napoli have had an underwhelming season so far that has seen them change coaches three times. Francesco Calzona has the reins until the end of the current campaign, and his side's hopes of snagging one of the European places rest on a win over Empoli.
He will be without Amir Rrahmani due to suspension while Mario Rui, who was sent off in the draw against Frosinone last weekend, misses out too.
Juan Jesus is expected to take Rui's position if he can pass a late fitness test for a back problem while the attack will feature regular suspects Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Matteo Politano.
Osimhen, like Napoli, has not reached the heights of last season but has chipped in with his own fair share of goals and his overall play has helped the team.
Even though he was at the Africa Cup of Nations, he has been able to score 13 goals from 20 league games. The striker has also weighed in with three assists and has scored twice in his last five Serie A games for Napoli.
Empoli vs Napoli H2H – Last 10 games
Nov 2023 – Napoli 0-1 Empoli
Feb 2023 – Empoli 0-2 Napoli
Nov 2022 – Napoli 2-0 Empoli
Apr 2022 – Empoli 3-2 Napoli
Dec 2021 – Napoli 0-1 Empoli
Apr 2019 – Empoli 2-1 Napoli
Nov 2018 – Napoli 5-1 Empoli
Mar 2017 – Empoli 2-3 Napoli
Oct 2016 – Napoli 2-0 Empoli
Jan 2016 – Napoli 5-1 Empoli
Empoli vs Napoli prediction
Previous games between these two sides have produced an average of 3.71 goals, so this should be an engrossing watch for the neutral.
While Napoli have been good on away trips of late – they've won two and drawn one while Empoli have not been at their best on their home turf.
Even though they won their last home game against Torino, they lost consecutive home games to Cagliari and Bologna.
Empoli have scored three goals in their last five matches (they scored three in the win over Torino), Napoli have scored eight and have not lost away in three straight games.
Napoli are the favorites for this one, and the stars seem to have aligned for a Partenopei win in this one, but only just. They will probably win by a small margin, with Osimhen's prowess in front of goal making the difference.
