Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Serie A match.
The opening fixture of the upcoming round of the Italian championship sees Empoli take on Torino. Last week, Empoli put in two solid performances, and their resounding victory over Verona (4:1) gives their fans hope for further progress.
Empoli
Heading into the 16th round of Serie A, Empoli have positioned themselves at the bottom of the top half of the table. Against Verona, they scored four goals by the 42nd minute, creating 1.28 xG and managing five shots on target throughout the game. Naturally, the mid-table side are missing several injured players, but they have learned to achieve results with the current squad. In terms of expected goals, Empoli are exceeding expectations: 14 successful shots with a 12.42 xG.
Torino
Torino's dramatic slump began after their exit from the Coppa Italia at the end of September, when they were defeated by none other than Empoli (1:2). Since then, they have managed just one victory in 11 matches, and their goalless draw against Genoa last weekend was their first clean sheet since 15th September. In terms of xGA, Torino are among the worst in Serie A (22.48), and without the injured Perr Schuurs, their defence lacks a leader.
Empoli vs Torino Prediction
Since May 2019, Empoli have scored at least one goal in seven of their eight head-to-head encounters with Torino. They are in form, and they look set to exploit the Turin side's current playing crisis.
