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2024/25 Serie A
Matchday 8
Empoli v Napoli
Stadio Carlo Castellani
Empoli, Italy
Sunday, 20 October 2024
Kick-off is at 12h30
Napoli head coach Antonio Conte will be determined to arrest a two-match losing streak to Empoli when they lock horns at the Stadio Carlo Castellani on Sunday, October 20 in the early kick-off.
The Tuscany outfit avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, but they still managed to do the league double over the Partenopei after winning 1-0 both home and away.
Conte has made a fine start to his tenure in Naples, picking up five wins from his opening seven matches in charge as the Blues recovered from a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Verona on matchday 1.
A 3-1 win over Como on October 4 extended their unbeaten run to six games and kept Conte's side two points clear of Inter Milan (2nd) at the
Serie A summit.
Empoli have done decently under Roberto D'Aversa, who took over the reins from Davide Nicola in the off-season, losing just one of their first seven top-flight encounters to sit in 10th place.
A 2-1 reverse at Lazio on October 6 ended their undefeated start to the campaign which included a 2-1 win over Roma and a 0-0 draw with Juventus.
In team news, Saba Sazonov and Tyronne Ebuehi (both) remain long-term absentees for the hosts, although Szymon Zurkowski (thigh) and Samuele Perisan (ankle) are closing in on their respective comebacks. The visitors have an almost fully-fit squad available, with Stanislav Lobotka and Alex Meret (both muscular) set to miss out.
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Conte doesn't feel that Napoli are anywhere near their best yet despite being top of the table, but he is pleased to see a willingness from his players to graft hard when needed.
"I don't know if this is currently a Napoli that deserves to be in first place in the standings, but we are first and that is a fact," he told DAZN. "If someone had told me this three months ago, it would have been difficult to believe.
"We're growing in terms of temperament, and in our ability to adapt - playing good football, but also willing to get our hands dirty when we need to. That's a great sign, and we have to embrace it fully."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Serie A Meetings)
Matches - 5
Empoli wins - 3
Napoli wins - 2
Draws - 0
Serie A Matchday 8 fixtures:
Saturday, October 19
15h00: Como v Parma
15h00: Genoa v Bologna
18h00: AC Milan v Udinese
20h45: Juventus v Lazio
Sunday, October 20
12h30: Empoli v Napoli
15h00: Lecce v Fiorentina
15h00: Venezia v Atalanta
18h00: Cagliari v Torino
20h45: Roma v Inter Milan
Monday, October 21
20h45: Verona v Monza
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