Our prediction for this Serie A match:
Buoyed by back-to-back wins over Genoa and Venezia, Lazio will look to keep their Champions League hopes alive when they take on Empoli at their Stadio Olimpico. The Biancocelesti were scoring goals for fun before the New Year break, and they are likely to stick to their attacking style of play. Centre-back Francesco Acerbi is a major doubt, but Maurizio Sarri has no other selection worries ahead of the visit of Empoli.
The Azzurri, on the other hand, have been having their ups and downs in the 2021/2022 Serie A season, and, as a result, they sit in 9th position in the standings. Midfielder Nicolas Haas should be the only absentee in the away team. Anyhow, home win should be considered as Lazio managed to find their best form before the break. In the first half of the season the Biancocelesti defeated the Azzurri 3-1.
Highlighted Player (Gonzalo Escalante):
Gonzalo Escalante is an Argentine footballer who plays for Eibar in Spanish La Liga. Escalante made his senior debut for Boca Juniors, coming as a substitute in a 6-1 loss to San Martin de San Juan. After playing 11 matches for the Argentine giants, he was sent on loan to Catania on 28 August, 2014 and he scored his first professional goal against Virtus Entella on 28 October.
On 29 January Escalante signed a permanent deal with the Sicilian outfit and he played 26 games for the club in the 2015/2016 campaign. At the end of the season he joined La Liga team Eibar on loan and he made his debut for los Armeros on 24 August against Granada. He managed to find his net on his debut and six months later he signed a permanent deal with the club.
His contract with Eibar expires on 30 June, 2020. His main position is central midfield, but he is capable of playing as a defensive midfielder as well.
Highlighted Team (Empoli):
Empoli FC (Empoli Football Club 1920 SpA) is an Italian football club founded in 1920 and is currently active in the Italian Serie A.
The club is playing in the Serie A since 2014/2015 and hosts its home games in the Stadio Carlo Castellani which holds a capacity of 19 847 seats. The home colors of Empoli FC are blue and white. The Empoli Ultra’s are called Rangers 1976 and are feared in Italy.
Empoli FC didn’t win any major prizes in the clubs history. The clubs biggest achievement in the history was in 2004/2005 where the club finished first in the Serie B (the second highest football division). Because of a matchfixing scandal the title was given away to Genoa CFC. Empoli FC played in the UEFA Cup once in season 2007/2008 but got knocked out in the first round by FC Zurich.
The are several famous players that played for Empoli FC like Birindelli, Bresciano, Di Natale and Luca Toni.