Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Serie A match.
Current leaders of the Italian championship, Atalanta are determined not to miss the opportunity to head into Christmas at the top of the table. Facing an inconsistent Empoli side, they are expected to create plenty of chances, given their opponent's defensive lapses.
Atalanta
After an unsuccessful outing against Real Madrid (2:3), which ended Atalanta's nine-match winning streak, the Serie A leaders bounced back with convincing victories over Cagliari (1:0) and Cesena (6:1). In the league fixture, they recorded 2.37 xG (the second-best of the round), while in the Cup against a lower-division side, Lazar Samardžić was a standout player (2+1). The absence of Marten De Roon due to yellow card accumulation is unlikely to trouble the Bergamo side, particularly as they lead the league in expected goals (37.74).
Empoli
Interestingly, Empoli, who sit at the bottom of the top half of the table, have the worst xG in Serie A (13.38). Against an inconsistent Torino team (0:1) at home, they appeared lacklustre, impacted by Ola Solbakken's injury and Liam Henderson's suspension, not to mention several long-term absentees. It's worth noting that in 10 away matches this season, Empoli have managed just one clean sheet.
Atalanta vs Empoli Prediction
Since October 2022, Atalanta have been on a four-game winning streak against Empoli, with three of those wins by at least a two-goal margin. We believe the Bergamo side, buoyed by their recent successes, will triumph again.
