Empoli’s woeful form has seen them collect just one point from their last five league matches, the joint-worst tally alongside Parma. Their trip to an in-form Udinese side will likely see them sit deep in a compact defensive structure, aiming to end their winless run and escape the relegation battle.
February has seen Udinese play more attacking football, securing a victory over Venezia (3:2) and a draw against Napoli (1:1). However, their effectiveness was largely due to clinical finishing (2.23 xG in those two games). Despite these results, Udinese’s attack remains the weakest among the Serie A top 10, with just 29 goals in 24 matches. At home, they are comfortable playing on the counter, which is why six of their 12 home games have stayed under 2.5 goals. Their 4-4-2 setup against Napoli highlights their defensive-first approach in tough fixtures.
Empoli might have been rooted to the bottom of the table if not for their rivals struggling too. Their home defeat to AC Milan (0:2) was defined by red cards to Fikayo Tomori and Luca Marianucci, but they failed to capitalise even with a numerical advantage. Empoli have only scored five goals in six league matches since January, a tally better only than Hellas Verona (2).
Since January 2023, these teams have not produced more than two goals in five consecutive meetings, including a 1:1 draw in the reverse fixture. Given their goal-scoring struggles and defensive tendencies, this game is likely to be a low-scoring affair.
