Empoli
- Empoli have won four, drawn ten and lost just three of their 17 Serie B home games this season.
- Only one place and one point separate Empoli in 15th and Virtus Entella in 16th in Serie B as 2025-26 enters the final stretch, so this Sunday’s clash between the clubs will be crucial in the race for survival at the bottom end of the table.
- Empoli have been in mixed form with one win, two draws and two losses in their last five games - although they are unbeaten in two at home (Won 1, Drawn 1) - while Virtus have had a rocky run of their own with one win, one draw and three defeats in the last five, including back-to-back away defeats.
- Fabio Caserta took over Empoli in March 2026 and immediately switched the club to a pragmatic back-five system that gets players compact and organised defensively before allowing them to transition into attacks quickly to catch the opposition off guard.
Virtus Entella
- Virtus play a similar system and Andrea Chiappella has had the same effect on them since taking over in July last year.
- The Biancoceleste have kept games tight but have not scored enough goals away from home to get a winning margin.
Key Players
- He’s got them structured well, but they’ve only scored 26 times in 17 home games and rely on Stiven Shpendi, who is more than a one trick pony with 13 goals in 31 Serie B games, to pop up with a goal when needed.
- Virtus only have one away win all season and, with Andrea Tiritiello their top goal-getter with seven in 23 Serie B appearances this term, they often look to their lone striker for a breakthrough - particularly when the game is tight.
Betting Insights
Empoli should be able to score a couple of goals in this game, but Virtus could grab a consolation effort, so take Both Teams to Score - Yes and Over 2.5 goals in the correct score markets.
Prediction
Entella will have to get tight in this matchup if they are to find an answer to Empoli, so it may well be a game that is settled by set pieces or a moment of brilliance on the break rather than a spell of open play.
