Al Castellani scores the former Venezia in the 55th minute, but the Ligurians see a goal from Colley canceled in the expired time: Stankovic -7 from Sassuolo
The eighteenth day of A league closes with victory at the Castellani dell’Empoli, who beat Sampdoria 1-0. The blucerchiati hit one crossed with Leristhen in the 55th minute Don’t worry decides the match by header from a corner kick. In the final, the Ligurians see each other cancel Colley’s 1-1 due to hand ball by Gabbiadini and remain at 9 points, at -7 from the safety zone and from Sassuolo. Empoli, on the other hand, rises to 22, catching up with Bologna.
THE MATCH
First victory in 2023 for Empoli, who after two draws beat Sampdoria 1-0 at Castellani, further injuring the Blucerchiati who protested in the final for Colley’s disallowed goal. The first opportunity is Marin’s right foot in the area blocked without problems by Audero, who was also good in the first half on Ebuehi. In the 28th minute, however, it was the crossbar that saved the Tuscans from Leris’s header. The last opportunities before the interval are the ex Caputo’s right-footed shot high over the crossbar and the deviation from a few steps away from Bandinelli’s cross from the left in added time, then the teams go to rest at 0-0.
In the second half, the Sampdoria immediately engage Vicario with Vieira’s right-footed shot from the edge, then in the 55th minute the match unlocked: a corner kick from Marin and a winning header from Ebuehi, who made it 1-0. The goal conceded convinces Stankovic to insert Sabiri, Winks (on his debut) and Zanoli, removing a dull Verre. The guests start to accelerate and the Moroccan immediately scares Vicario, who then saves twice on Djuricic.
Sampdoria’s final forcing doesn’t pay off thanks also to Vicario’s saves on Lammers, then in the 97th minute the episode that infuriates Stankovic: goal from Colley, but the goal isn’t validated due to hand ball by Gabbiadini, who goes down after having immediately foul in the area. Santoro canceled and in the end it remained 1-0 for Empoli, who rose to 22 by hooking up with Bologna. Sampdoria, on the other hand, remains at 9, now at -7 from the safety zone.
REPORT CARDS
Vicar 7 – No miracle, but his saves especially on Gabbiadini, Vieira and Lammers are incisive and decisive: the victory also bears his signature.
Day 7 – Already dangerous in the first half, he decides the match with a good header: the reward for a match with few flaws.
Caputo 6 – The great ex tries several times, but the inaccuracy and Audero prevent him from stinging. However, the evidence is positive.
Audero 5 – Be careful in the first half, but the exit for Empoli’s goal is completely wrong, in terms of timing and methods.
Lammers 6 – The other ex of the day is one of those who puts the greatest effort into it, but fails to sting even because of a super Vicar.
THE TABLE
EMPOLI 1-0 SAMPDORIA
Empoli (4-3-1-2): Vicar 7; Ebuehi 7 (32′ st Stojanovic 5.5), Ismajli 6, Luperto 6, Parisi 6.5; Akpa Akpro 6 (40′ st Fazzini sv), Marin 6.5, Bandinelli 6 (18′ st Haas 6); Baldanzi 6 (18′ st Pjaca 6); Caputo 6, Satriano 6 (32′ st Cambiaghi 6). Extras: Perisan, Ujkani, Cacace, Walukiewicz, De Winter, Henderson, Bajrami, Degli Innocenti, Ekong. All.: Zanetti 6
Sampdoria (3-4-1-2): Audero 5; Colley 6, Nuytinck 6, Amione 5.5 (17′ st Winks 6); Leris 5 (18′ st Zanoli 6), Vieira 5.5 (24′ st Paoletti 6), Djuricic 5, Augello 6; Verre 5.5 (15′ st Sabiri 5.5); Lammers 6, Gabbiadini 5.5. Available: Turk, Ravaglia, Murillo, Yepes, Montevago. All.: Stankovic 6
Referee: Santoro
Marker: 10′ st Ebuehi
Ammonites: Leris (S), Vieira (S), Gabbiadini (S), Parisi (E), Marin (E), Ismajli (E), Stojanovic (E), Sabiri (S), Vicario (E), Djuricic (S)
Note: recovery 2’+13′
THE STATISTICS
– Empoli have won three home games in a row in Serie A for the first time since December 2018.
– Tyronne Ebuehi is the first Nigerian player to score for Empoli in Serie A. Overall, the third Nigerian defender to find the net in the top flight after Ola Aina and Taribo West.
– Among the teams that currently occupy the second half of the Serie A table, Empoli is the one that has sent the most players to score (12).
– Razvan Marin actively participated in a goal in two consecutive matches in Serie A for the first time since April 2022 (two winning passes for Cagliari in that case against Juventus and Sassuolo).
– This is only the third time that Empoli have racked up three consecutive home wins without conceding in Serie A having already succeeded in January 2017 (three) and February 2007 (four in that case).
– Empoli have not lost any of their last four matches in Serie A (W2, D2): the Tuscan team has collected four games unbeaten in the top flight for the first time since September 2022 (4 draws in a row in that case).
– Empoli went unbeaten in the first three Serie A matches of a calendar year for the second time (W1, D2) after having already succeeded in 2017 (W2, D1).
– Since last season, Sampdoria is the team that has lost the most matches in Serie A (35 out of 56).
Only against Sassuolo (11) and Roma (10), Empoli had more times on goal in the first half than against Sampdoria in this Serie A (nine).
– 50th appearance in Serie A for Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro.
– Empoli have fielded a formation with an average age of 26 years and 135 days, the oldest starting eleven for the Tuscan team in this championship.
