Our prediction for this Serie A match:
Empoli play host to Cremonese at their Stadio Carlo Castellani in the opening match of day 15. The Azzurri do not seem to be at their sharpest, with the team losing three of their last four league fixtures, but the fact that they defeated Sassuolo in their last home game is surely giving fans a reason for optimism ahead of Friday’s clash. Sebastiano Luperto is banned for the match, while both Mattia Destro and Koni De Winter are out of contention with injuries.
Meanwhile, Le Tigri did well to hold reigning champions to a draw in midweek, but they are still eyeing their first league win of the season. There are no fresh injury worries in the away team ahead of the trip to Florence. Anyhow, the share of spoils is on the cards as Cremonese have drawn each of their last three league matches.
Highlighted Player (Mattia Destro):
Mattia Destro started his youth career at Ascoli, but in 2005 he moved to Inter. The Italian attacker, though, made his debut in the Serie A with Genoa in the 2010/2011 season. He scored 2 goals in 16 appearances for the Rossoblu and at the end of the season he signed a deal with Siena. Destro netted 12 goals for Siena in 30 league appearances for the club and on 30 July, 2012 he joined fellow Serie A team Roma for a fee of €8.5 million.
The Italian footballer made his debut for the capital club on 2 September, 2012 in a 3-1 victory over Inter. Destro scored 24 goals for Roma between 2012 and 2015 and after ending his loan spell with Milan he joined Bologna on 20 August, 2015.
Speaking of his international career, the Bologna forward has 15 caps for Italy U21 and he made his debut for the senior team on 15 August, 2012 against England at Wembley Stadium. He made Italy’s 2014 provisional FIFA World Cup squad, but he eventually failed to make the final roster.