The 2022-23 Serie A season returns with a bang this weekend and these Spezia vs. Empoli predictions are one of 10 top flight games on the calendar. Both sides ended the prior campaign secure from relegation, with Spezia in 16th and Empoli in 14th.
Spezia vs. Empoli odds
1 – A draw after 90 minutes – 12/5
2 – Empoli under 2.5 total goals – 1/7
3 – Total goals scored under 2.5 – 10/11
4 – Both teams to score – 8/11
5 – A 1-1 draw – 6/1
Despite their respective unspectacular ends to the 2021-22 season both Spezia and Empoli will begin the new season with confidence of edging their way up the Serie A table.
The battle to avoid relegation is tense in Italian football and neither side will want to be dragged into it in the coming months.
Spezia struggled for consistency during preseason, with two wins from four warm up matches, however, they did respond with a Coppa Italia First Round win over Cesc Fabregas’ Como last weekend.
Empoli enjoyed a very positive preseason, with four wins from four games, however, their competitive start to the campaign resulted in a Coppa Italia loss to SPAL.
Despite Empoli’s strong run of summer results, their slip in the Coppa Italia presents an opportunity for Spezia to at least pick up a draw on home turf.
With very little to go on ahead of the opening weekend, the likelihood is to opt for a low scorer, with both sides in the bottom six teams for goals scored in 2021-22, and this tie should follow that pattern as the day job of Serie A football returns.
Preseason shows both sides are capable of scoring goals, with both teams scoring in their Coppa Italia outings, alongside netting in all of their preseason games, with Spezia bagging 11 goals and Empoli registering an impressive tally of 17.
With both sides showing little signs of a clear edge between them, a draw looks to be a solid option in this tie, but based on preseason, both teams will be confident of getting on the scoresheet at the Stadio Alberto Picco this weekend.
How to stream Spezia vs. Empoli
You can stream Spezia vs. Empoli live on Sunday evening via a bet365 stream with customers able to watch the full game through a valid account.
Spezia vs. Empoli last five matches
Spezia last five matches
Empoli last five matches
Spezia top goalscorers
N/A
Empoli top goalscorers
N/A
Spezia vs. Empoli line-ups
Spezia (3-5-2): Zoet; Nikolaou, Kiwior, Caldara; Bastoni, Agudelo, Sala, Bourabia, Gyasi; Verde, Nzola
Empoli (4-1-3-2): Vicario; Parisi, Luperto, Ismajli, Stojanovic; Marin; Bandinelli, Henderson, Haas; Bajrami, Destro
Spezia team news
Spezia boss Luca Gotti is still without teenage striker Janis Antiste as he recovers from a long-standing knee injury. Summer signing Mehdi Bourabia is expected to make his Serie A debut for the club in midfield following a switch from Sassuolo last month.
Empoli team news
Veteran defender Lorenzo Tonelli is still a few weeks away from a return for Empoli, however, head coach Paolo Zanetti will also include some of his new faces on the opening weekend with Guglielmo Vicario and Peter Stojanovic both in line to start.