Empoli are proving to be deeply unpredictable, swinging from victory over Juventus to home defeat against Venezia, so it’ll be interesting to see how they do against Sampdoria.
The newly-promoted side are still trying to find their feet under new coach Aurelio Andreazzoli and with so many signings late in the transfer window, will need time to settle. Patrick Cutrone and Andrea Pinamonti are battling to partner Leonardo Mancuso upfront, while Liam Henderson and Lorenzo Tonelli are also pushing to start.
Samp are more solid this season and broke their goal drought in a 2-2 draw with Inter. Albin Ekdal is still not 100 per cent fit, but the veteran partnership of Fabio Quagliarella and Ciccio Caputo has real promise.
Form Guide: Empoli (L W L) Sampdoria (D D L)
Stat fact: Empoli could lose three of the opening four Serie A rounds for the first time since 2005-06, but that season they finished 10th.
Probable line-ups
Empoli (4-3-1-2): Vicario; Stojanovic, Tonelli, Luperto, Marchizza; Haas, S Ricci, Henderson; Bajrami; Mancuso, Pinamonti
Suspended: None
Injured: Fiamozzi
On a yellow card: None
Sampdoria (4-4-2): Audero; Bereszynski, Yoshida, Colley, Augello; Candreva, Thorsby, Silva, Damsgaard; Caputo, Quagliarella
Suspended: None
Injured: Gabbiadini
On a yellow card: None