Both Udinese and Empoli want to win, with the former harbouring European ambitions and the Tuscans aiming to move clear of the relegation zone

At the same time as Monza vs. Lecce, Udinese and Empoli will meet at the Bluenergy Stadium on matchday 25 in Serie A Enilive.

After beating Venezia and holding league leaders Napoli, the hosts are aiming for three points to try and get in the race for a European spot.

Meanwhile, Empoli are without a win since 8 December - a 4-1 victory over Verona - and have picked up just two points from their last nine outings. They need a spark to reignite their ambitions of securing survival.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Udinese are unbeaten in their last six Serie A matches against Empoli (W2 D4), with the Tuscans` last win against the Friulians in the competition coming back on 6th December 2021 (3-1 at the Castellani stadium).

Udinese and Empoli have drawn each of their last three league matches: the Tuscans have recorded more consecutive draws in Serie A only against Genoa (four between November 2021 and February 2024).

Udinese haven’t lost in 13 of their 15 home games against Empoli in Serie A (W8 D5), scoring twice as many goals as the Tuscans (26 vs 13).

DID YOU KNOW?

With Jurgen Ekkelenkamp`s goal in the last match against Napoli, Udinese have now scored six goals from outside the box in the current league season, with only Atalanta (eight) netting more (six also for Fiorentina).

Empoli are the only team yet to win any points from goals scored in the last 30 minutes of play in Serie A this season (only three goals netted in this period), while the Tuscan club have also dropped the most points (14) from goals conceded in the last 30 minutes of play.

PLAYERS

Lorenzo Lucca (nine goals in the current league season) could reach 10+ goals for the first time in a Serie A campaign; he could become only the second Italian player to reach 10+ goals in a single season for Udinese in the last 10 Serie A campaigns (since 2015/16), after Kevin Lasagna (10 in 2019/20 and 12 in 2017/18).

Seven of Sebastiano Esposito`s eight goals in the current league season have come in away games; only one player has netted more away goals in a single Serie A campaign in Empoli`s history: Francesco Tavano in 2005/06 (eight).

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: Marianucci (Empoli) (2)

Cautioned: Kamara, Ehizibue, Giannetti (Udinese); Cacace, Gyasi (Empoli)

REFEREE

DOVERI (DEI GIUDICI – NIEDDA) IV: GIUA, VAR: GHERSINI, AVAR: GUIDA

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A

Lecce-Udinese (Friday 21 February, 20:45 CET)

Empoli-Atalanta (Sunday 23 February, 18:00 CET)

(Photo Getty Images)

Udinese Empoli Serie A