Nikola Kalinic and Josip Ilicic take on Massimo Maccarone and Riccardo Saponara in an intriguing Derby di Toscana between Empoli and Fiorentina.
It kicks off at 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT) at the Stadio Castellani.
These two sides share a similar approach to football, so we should see an open and attacking game. Last time they met in November, Empoli were 2-0 up only to be pegged back 2-2 by a Kalinic brace.
Kalinic returns from suspension to lead the line today, though Khouma Babacar, Mati Fernandez and Yohan Benalouane are unavailable.
Nikola Kalinic and Josip Ilicic take on Massimo Maccarone and Riccardo Saponara in an intriguing Derby di Toscana between Empoli and Fiorentina.
It kicks off at 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT) at the Stadio Castellani.
These two sides share a similar approach to football, so we should see an open and attacking game. Last time they met in November, Empoli were 2-0 up only to be pegged back 2-2 by a Kalinic brace.
Kalinic returns from suspension to lead the line today, though Khouma Babacar, Mati Fernandez and Yohan Benalouane are unavailable.
The Viola need a victory to recapture fourth place from Inter, who won 1-0 away to Frosinone on Saturday, and stay in the running for a Champions League spot.
Empoli’s performances have not been particularly poor of late, but their winless streak still stretches to 12 rounds, including six defeats.
They were squeezed out 1-0 by leaders Juventus last week and will be hoping to end that negative run today.
Andrea Costa and Lukasz Skorupski are ruled out, so Saponara sits in the hole behind strikers Maccarone and Manuel Pucciarelli.
Goalkeeper Alberto Pelagotti gets his Serie A debut at the age of 27.
Empoli have only ever won this Serie A fixture once, losing four and drawing three. That single success was 1-0 back in November 1986.
In fact, home and away, Fiorentina are unbeaten against their Tuscan neighbours since September 1997, enjoying 10 wins and four draws in all competition.
Empoli: Pelagotti, Laurini, Tonelli, Croce, Zielinski, Mario Rui, Cosic, Saponara, Paredes, Maccarone, Pucciarelli
Fiorentina: Tatarusanu, Alonso, Gonzalo, Astori, Roncaglia, Vecino, B.Valero, Tello, Bernardeschi, Ilicic, Kalinic