Two sides in dire form face off on Saturday for this weekend’s Atalanta vs. Empoli predictions in the Italian top-flight. Neither side has secured a win in the last four rounds of Serie A action, with the impact felt profoundly in the league table.
Atalanta vs. Empoli odds
1 – Atalanta to win – 5/11
2 – Atalanta to win or draw – 1/6
3 – Under 2.5 goals scored – 5/4
4 – The match to finish 0-0 – 16/1
5 – Ademola Lookman to score first – 5/1
Atalanta welcome Empoli to the Gewiss Stadium on Saturday, looking to end a torrid run that has seen La Dea pick up just one point in their last four games. In the opposing dugout, Paolo Zanetti’s side have been even worse, and are without a win since January.
Despite their poor recent form, the hosts are very much the favourites. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are 14 points better off in the league standing than their weekend opponents, and will point towards a tough fixture list to explain their recent poor run.
On the other hand, La Dea have dropped points to the likes of Lecce, Udinese and Sassuolo in recent weeks, meaning that they are not just fallible against top sides. Furthermore, Empoli beat Atalanta in each of the last two seasons, something that Zanetti will undoubtedly be using to build confidence ahead of Saturday’s game. Cautious punters may look therefore to secure their bet to allow for an Atalanta win or draw.
Having established a reputation as one of Serie A’s most attacking teams in the past few years, Atalanta’s offensive record has been peculiarly poor in recent weeks. The Orobici have scored just one in their last four games, made all the more bizarre given that the week before they put two past a strong defensive side in Lazio.
A wager on a low-scoring game with under 2.5 goals scored would therefore make sense ahead of this weekend’s fixture. Particularly adventurous betters may look to further extend their odds by backing a 0-0 at full-time, given that Empoli have also struggled in front of goal in recent weeks.
What makes the host’s offensive struggles particularly surprising is that Gasperini has dropped the team’s top scorer, Ademola Lookman. Admittedly, the forward is on a barren run with no goals in seven games, but in this period he has only played a full 90 minutes twice.
Should the coach opt to bring the Englishman back from the start on Saturday we would back him to break the deadlock against Empoli.
How to stream Atalanta vs. Empoli
Catch Atalanta vs. Empoli live this weekend through a funded bet365 account or having placed a bet up to one day ahead of kick-off.
Atalanta vs. Empoli last five matches
Atalanta last five matches
Empoli last five matches
Atalanta top goalscorers
| Player | Total goals |
|---|---|
| 13 | |
| 10 | |
| 5 | |
| 4 | |
| 3 |
Empoli top goalscorers
| Player | Total goals |
|---|---|
| 6 | |
| 5 | |
| 4 | |
| 2 | |
| 2 |
Atalanta vs. Empoli line-ups
Atalanta (3-4-1-2): Musso; Toloi, Demiral, Scalvini; Maehle, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Pasalic; Hojlund, Zapata
Empoli (4-3-1-2): Vicario; Stojanovic, Ismajli, Luperto, Parisi; Akpro, Main, Bandinelli; Baldanzi; Caputo, Satriano
Atalanta team news
Berat Djimsiti’s injury in the first half against Napoli last weekend is likely to keep the centre-back out of Saturday’s fixture, with Merih Demiral stepping-in. Atalanta’s injury problem is showing signs of abating though, with Teun Koopmeiners potentially returning to the squad and Hans Hateboer as the only confirmed absentee.
Empoli team news
Guglielmo Vicario is set to return for Empoli in a significant boost for Paolo Zanetti. Empoli remain without a number of senior figures though, with Mattia Destro and Andrea Cambiaghi sidelined and Filippo Bandinelli a major doubt for Saturday’s game.