Empoli vs Genoa: The Griffins cannot afford to lose to a Serie B club

Matchday 12 of the Italian championship starts on Friday. Aurelio Andreazzolli’s Empoli will host Genoa, who cannot get out of the relegation zone. Who will win the encounter? Or maybe it will be a draw? We have a couple of options to choose from.

The Blues have had a brilliant first half. It’s as if Aurelio Andreazzolli’s team is continuing what they started the season before last that ended with an undeserved relegation. This time, Empoli, who made it back to Serie A in one year, apparently determined not to repeat their own mistakes, decided to go straight into the action. After 11 rounds, the Blues already have 15 points and a 7-point handicap from the relegation zone.

Interestingly, Andreazzolli’s side has never drawn - 5 wins, 6 draws. In the last round, the draw was closer than ever. Empoli equalised against Sassuolo before winning in the final second’s thanks to Szymon Zurkowski, 2-1. The Blues’ unbeaten streak has now reached 11 games.

In recent matches, Davide Ballardini’s side has stopped conceding a lot. True, to the detriment of the attacking efficiency. The Griffins have also practically stopped scoring. And in terms of results, there is no difference. The Genoese have seldom won before, and since then, they almost always play to a draw and sometimes lose.

On the eve of the meeting with Empoli, Genoa faced their direct rivals in the fight for survival. First, they snatched a 1-1 draw away to La Spezia and then drew 0-0 at home to Venezia. The Griffins share 17th-18th place with the same side, La Spezia, with only 8 points in 11 rounds.

Genoa have conceded just one goal in 2 matches, which is encouraging given that their defensive play was the stumbling block for the Griffins at the start of the season. The meeting with Empoli is crucial for Ballardini’s team. The Blues are no Juventus, Napoli, or AC Milan. They are a Serie B side that even an experienced Genoa side can be expected to win points away from home. They might not be able to win, but a draw is quite realistic. All the more so, it would be high time for Empoli to finish the game on equal footing for the 12th time in a row.

• X2 for 1.76;
• X for 3.75;
• Correct score 2-2 for 11.00.