Win Over Roma Would Keep Empoli in Serie A
Empoli F.C. vs A.S. Roma Lineups, Odds and Trends
Roma Locked Into Sixth Place
Empoli can extend their tenure in Serie A if they’re able to defeat A.S. Roma at home on Sunday in the season finale. Entering the weekend, Empoli are in 18th place in the Serie A table and they’ll be relegated if they lose. With Roma locked into sixth place and unable to change their fate, Empoli will feel they can get a season-saving result here. Ahead of this crucial match, we’ll take a look at the Empoli F.C. vs A.S. Roma lineups, odds, and trends.
Empoli vs Roma
Date & Time: Sunday, May 26th, 2:45 p.m. ET
Location: Stadio Carlo Castellani, Empoli, Italy
Empoli F.C. vs A.S. Roma Head-to-Head
Empoli are on an eight game losing streak vs. Roma on the Serie A schedule and haven’t defeated the Giallorossi in any of the last 16 meetings. Earlier this season, Roma destroyed Empoli 7-0 at the Stadio Olimpico as Paulo Dybala scored twice. On Sunday, Empoli are playing in front of their home fans. However, they’re 0-1-5 in their last six home games vs. Roma and last beat the Giallorossi in 2007.
Empoli Rarely Score From Open Play
Empoli were minutes away from escaping Serie A’s bottom three on Sunday but conceded a late penalty to fellow relegation battlers Udinese. After M’Baye Niang converted a penalty for Empoli in the 90th minute, Udinese’s Lazar Samardzic slotted his spotkick home in the 104th. The Empoli F.C. vs A.S. Roma lineups will not include Empoli midfielder Alberto Grassi. He was sent off in the 105th minute and will be suspended for this match.
Meanwhile, defender Tyronne Ebuehi is injured and forward Alberto Cerri is listed as doubtful. Empoli have won just one of their last six matches but are unbeaten in their last three at home. Empoli have scored just one goal from open play since April 6th and it was Cerri who scored it. They’re the lowest-scoring team in the league, with just 27 goals in 37 matches.
A win would guarantee safety for Empoli, who are one point behind Udinese and two points behind Frosinone. Udinese and Frosinone face off on Sunday in a match that affects Empoli’s fate. if Udinese lose and Empoli draw, the two sides would contest a relegation play-off to see who stays in Serie A. Niang is the only Empoli player with five goals this season and they may need a goal from the former Senegal international on Sunday.
Roma Can’t Influence UCL Destiny
A ten-man Roma took down Genoa 1-0 on Serie A Matchday 37. After Leandro Paredes picked up a red card, Romelu Lukaku headed home Stephan El Shaarawy’s cross. Unfortunately for Roma, Champions League qualification is out of their hands, as they’ll finish outside of the top five. There is still a permutation that allows Roma to play in the UCL next season, though. The soccer cup games today have gone their way as Atalanta defeated Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League Final.
So, if Atalanta finishes in fifth place, Serie A will receive an extra UCL slot and sixth-placed Roma will play among Europe’s elite. There is absolutely nothing Roma can do to influence that, other than hope Atalanta lose their remaining two matches. The Roma standings show the Giallorossi are locked into sixth place and it’s unclear how many players Daniele De Rossi will rest for Sunday’s season finale.
Paredes and Lukaku won’t be options, as they’re both suspended. We could see Sardar Azmoun or Tammy Abraham start up front without Lukaku available. Edoardo Bove is in line for more minutes with Paredes out and Angeliño should continue at left back while Leonardo Spinazzola is injured. Roma are just 6-5-7 on the road this season.
Empoli F.C. vs A.S. Roma Match Analysis & Odds
In a match Empoli need to win to guarantee their safety, they are even money favorites vs. Roma. History certainly isn’t on their side here, as Roma have outscored Empoli 23-4 over the last eight meetings. The Empoli F.C. vs A.S. Roma lineups could look different from last weekend, given suspensions and injuries.
Expect Davide Nicola to put out his best lineup on Sunday, while De Rossi could give players who haven’t played much some gametime. Roma +0.5 sits at -120 odds but the Giallorossi are +265 underdogs for Sunday’s match, as their result won’t change their place in the Serie A standings.
A draw (+265) would mean Empoli have to depend on Frosinone to defeat Udinese to force a relegation play-off. Empoli’s current spell in Serie A has lasted three seasons and a loss will end it. Expect the Empoli faithful to be out in full force and the atmosphere to be tense. Over 2.5 goals sit at -120 odds but if this turns into a shootout, it’s doubtful Empoli would be on the winning side.
