Empoli

vs

Mantova

Preview

Empoli

• There are two teams in transition on Saturday afternoon when Empoli entertain Mantova in a fixture that should prove a good test of both new coaches’ resolve in the Serie B sprint.
• Empoli are winless in their last five matches, drawing three and losing two.
• Alessio Dionisi was in charge at Empoli from October 2025 to March 9, 2026.
• Fabio Caserta is the new head coach and is a pragmatist, preferring to keep things compact and solid at the back while looking to score when they get the chance.
• Empoli’s record of 3 wins, 9 draws and 3 losses at home in Serie B 2025/2026 shows they have been grinders at their best this season.
• The 13th-placed team have 31 points from 29 games and have drawn both of their last two home matches, including a 1-1 draw with Cesena.

Mantova

• Mantova have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five.
• Mantova are just behind them in the Serie B table, in 15th place on 30 points from 29, and they also have a new coach in Francesco Modesto, who took over in December 2025.
• His approach has been to install a high-press, 3-4-2-1 system that has led to some impressive wins and draws, but also a few bad days in the office.
• The 2025-2026 season has seen Mantova win just 2, draw 3 and lose 9 of their 14 Serie B away games.

Head-to-Head

Key Players

• Stiven Shpendi has been Empoli’s talisman in Serie B 2025-2026 with 10 goals in 26 games, four of which came among Empoli's last seven goals.
• Davide Bragantini is in red-hot form for Mantova, bagging four of their last six goals in Serie B 2025-2026.
• They are high-pressing, fast in the vertical and with the wing-backs stretching play, which may be tough for Empoli to deal with.

Betting Insights

Prediction