Spezia vs Empoli Predictions

• Spezia and Empoli had Serie A’s second- and third-worst defensive records last season, conceding 71 and 70 goals respectively.
• Spezia have seen goals at both ends in six of their last seven competitive matches – as well as in three of four pre-season friendlies.
• Empoli have also seen both teams score on six of their last seven competitive outings.

All change at Spezia and Empoli

Both Spezia and Empoli retained their Serie A status last term, a success, on the face of it, for sides who have both been in the second tier recently. However, both decided to make managerial changes after finishing 16^th and 14^th respectively, Spezia bringing in Luca Gotti in Thiago Motta’s place, while Empoli hired Paolo Zanetti as Aurelio Andreazzoli’s replacement.

Spezia had the second-worst defensive record in Serie A last term, conceding 71 goals, though six of their last seven competitive matches – and three of their four recent friendlies – contained goals at both ends. With Gotti likely to instil a direct counter-attacking game, that could become a theme in Liguria, and they warmed up for this match with a 5-1 Coppa Italia hammering of Como last week.

Empoli, meanwhile, looked set for a stunning top-half finish last term, playing a thrilling brand of high-pressing football, before a run of two wins in their final 21 matches cost Andreazzoli his job. Both teams have also scored in six of their last seven matches, including last week’s Coppa Italia exit to SPAL, and Zanetti should have more success in instilling his own positive style at Empoli than he did at Venezia.

Goals at both ends likely

With goals at both ends being a feature of games involving both of these sides at the end of last season, and considering the uncertainty that comes with new coaches arriving at both teams, backing both to score looks a strong bet.

Meanwhile, a repeat of the 1-1 draw played out in this fixture last season could represent a decent correct score prediction.

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