The Matchday 17 Serie A clash between Atalanta and Empoli will take place on December 22 at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo. Atalanta vs. Empoli: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Referee: Ermanno Feliciani (Italy)
Matches – 18 (Serie A, 2023/24–2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 53;
Average yellow cards per match – 2.9;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 23;
Penalties – 33%.
Predicted lineups for Atalanta vs. Empoli
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Marco Carnesecchi – Odilon Kossounou, Isak Hien, Sead Kolasinac – Raoul Bellanova, Mario Pasalic, Ederson Lourenco, Matteo Ruggeri – Marco Brescianini, Charles De Ketelaere – Mateo Retegui.
Empoli (3-4-3): Devis Vasquez – Saba Goglichidze, Mattia Viti, Ardian Ismajli – Emmanuel Gyasi, Youssef Maleh, Tino Anjorin, Giuseppe Pezzella – Sebastiano Esposito, Lorenzo Colombo, Liberato Cacace.
Each team's starting lineup from their last match in this tournament is listed.
Atalanta
Gian Piero Gasperini's side defeated Cagliari 1-0 away in the last round, extending their winning streak in the league to ten matches and setting a new club record. As a result, Atalanta has accumulated 37 points and maintained the top position in the standings. However, in terms of goals scored this Serie A season (39), the team is surpassed by Inter (40).
Defender Giorgio Scalvini and forward Gianluca Scamacca will miss the game due to injuries. Midfielder Marten De Roon is suspended.
- The team has won 9 of their last 11 home matches in Serie A.
- Both teams scored in 7 of Atalanta's last 8 home league matches.
- At least three goals were scored in 9 of Atalanta's last 10 home Serie A matches.
Empoli
In the last round, Roberto D'Aversa's side lost 0-1 at home to Torino. As a result, Empoli failed to win for the ninth time in their last 11 Serie A matches (4 draws, 5 losses). With 19 points, the club is tenth in the standings. Notably, in terms of points earned in away matches this season, Empoli is behind only five teams (12).
Defender Tyronne Ebuehi, midfielders Nicolas Haas and Jacopo Fazzini, and forward Ola Solbakken will miss the match due to injuries. Defender Mattia De Sciglio is suspended.
- The club has not won in 11 of their last 14 away Serie A matches (4 draws, 7 losses).
- No more than two goals were scored in 10 of their last 13 away league matches.
- The number "1" appeared in the final score in 7 of Empoli's last 9 away Serie A matches.
Atalanta vs. Empoli: Match Prediction
The first half of this Serie A season has been successful for Gian Piero Gasperini's side, but the team has not been perfect. Primarily, Atalanta struggles with defensive consistency and even in home matches, they regularly allow opponents to score. In their last eight home league matches, Atalanta kept a clean sheet only once and conceded goals to teams like Verona and Genoa, while Como scored three goals against them.
Empoli may not focus on attacking football, but they make the most of their opportunities. In 8 of their last 9 away Serie A matches, the team has scored, failing only against Milan's defense. In their previous away league match, Empoli scored four goals against their opponents.
I believe that in this match, even if the visitors do not secure a result, they will at least score one goal. My prediction: Empoli Individual Total Over 0.5
