Empoli vs Reggina

Empoli host Reggina at the Stadio Carlo Castellani in a battle of clubs fighting to stave off relegation. The two clubs are located within the bottom 4 slots of the Serie A league table and every point left up for grabs this season is vital for each of them. Scoring goals has come at a premium for the two sides as they have combined to score just 27 between them. That figure is less than what Inter Milan, Roma, and Juventus have scored on their own.

Alberto Malesani’s side come into this match off of a 2-2 draw away to Udinese at the Stadio Friuli during the last match of 2007. The draw extends their unbeaten run to a modest 3 matches. They are currently in 17^th place of Serie A with 15 points, just 1 point ahead of Siena and the relegation zone and just behind 16^th place Livorno on goal difference. The main injury concern at this time is left side midfielder Marchisio who is dealing with an ankle injury. Should he not be able to go Uruguayan veteran Guillermo Giacomazzi would take his place. Striker Mcheldlidze is still in his home country of Georgia and not available. The rest of the squad is available, allowing Malesani to go with a 4-3-2-1 featuring Luca Saudati as the lone striker.

Reggina have fared even worse than Empoli this season. Presently they sit in the 19^th spot of the Serie A table with 13 points on the year, 1 back of Siena and only 3 ahead of cellar dwellers Cagliari. They do however come into this contest on a positive note having defeated Catania in their last match by a score of 3-1. That victory snapped a 3 match stretch that had seen them go scoreless. This match presents them with a golden opportunity as a victory would see them leap-frog over Empoli and possibly out of the relegation zone. There are a number of confirmed absences at this time in Garcia, Hallfredsson and Joelson while Aronica is out suspended. Cirillo was slated to make his debut for the club in place of Aronica but his international transfer has not been received. Manager Renzo Ulivieri’s certainly has a number of problems to overcome this week as at the last moment he announced in a press conference that the club’s top striker, Amoruso with 5 goals, will not make the trip to Empoli for undisclosed reasons.

Reggina have a number of key absences this week and Amoruso’s absence in particular will be very hard to overcome. In addition, they have yet to win a match away from home this year. Look for Empoli to build on their 3 match unbeaten run and get the job done this week.

Prediction: Empoli (1-0)