Torino vs Empoli predictions for Saturday’s Serie A fixture. In pursuit of a top-half position in the Serie A standings, mid-table Torino welcomes struggling Empoli at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino. Who will prevail? Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
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Match Live Saturday, 16th December at 7:45 pm In:
Torino vs Empoli Predictions
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A Tactical Tussle in Turin: Torino and Empoli’s Midfield Battle
Key Stats
– Empoli’s Goal Drought: Only 10 goals scored, highlighting their attacking woes.
– Duvan Zapata: Key to Torino’s attack with a recent brace and a critical role in the team’s offensive strategy.
As Torino and Empoli gear up for their Serie A encounter, it’s a tale of two teams with divergent ambitions but similar struggles. Torino, aiming for a top-half spot, faces Empoli, desperate to escape the relegation zone. This analysis delves into their current forms, tactical approaches, and key players, culminating in predictions that reflect the nuanced nature of this matchup.
Our Suggested Best Value Bet For This Match
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Best Value Bet Rationale
Sanabria, with an average rating of 6.78 from BettingTips4You, has been a regular feature in Torino’s attacking line-up, starting 9 out of 12 matches he’s played. His scoring frequency might read 377 minutes per goal, but a deeper dive into his statistics reveals a more promising picture for this particular bet. With an expected goals (xG) of 3.24, there’s a clear indication that Sanabria is getting into goal-scoring positions more often than his current goal tally suggests. This is further evidenced by his average of 1.3 shots per game, with a notable 0.5 of those being on target.
Moreover, Torino’s playing style, focusing on creating opportunities from wide areas, plays to Sanabria’s strengths. His ability to find space in the box will be crucial, especially against an Empoli side that has conceded 27 goals this season. With Torino’s midfielders like Linetty and Vojvoda likely to feed him, Sanabria will have ample chances to test Empoli’s goalkeeper.
Given the context of the game, with Torino seeking to break into the top half and Empoli fighting relegation, the match is poised to be tightly contested. In such scenarios, strikers of Sanabria’s calibre often become focal points of their team’s attack. Therefore, betting on Sanabria to have over 1.5 shots on target seems not only a logical choice but a value one, especially with the enhanced odds currently offered by Bet365 at the time of writing (odds subject to change, T&C’s apply).
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Torino’s Tactical Outlook
Defensive Solidity and Midfield Dynamics
Torino’s recent form, characterised by a commendable defensive record with clean sheets in their last two games, suggests a team finding stability. Alessandro Buongiorno and Vanja Milinković-Savić have been pivotal, maintaining a strong defensive line. However, their goalscoring woes, with just 13 Serie A goals this season, underscore a glaring issue in their attack. The return of Karol Linetty could inject creativity into the midfield, potentially offering a solution. Yet, the key lies in Duvan Zapata’s ability to convert chances, as seen in his recent brace against Atalanta.
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Strategic Weaknesses and Strengths
Coach Ivan Juric has built a team proficient in maintaining possession (50.8%) and effective in tackles (13.1 per game). However, the lack of conversion rate upfront is a concern. Zapata’s form and the potential partnership with Antonio Sanabria could be decisive in breaking this jinx.
Empoli’s Struggle for Form
Offensive Challenges
Empoli’s struggle is more pronounced in the attacking third, with a mere 10 league goals. Francesco Caputo’s leadership upfront is crucial, but the team’s low shot conversion rate (6.1%) is alarming. Empoli’s reliance on counter-attacks and set-pieces, evidenced by their free kicks per game (13.2) and corners (4.5 per game), hasn’t translated into goals.
Defensive Vulnerabilities
Defensively, Empoli shows frailties, conceding 27 goals. Their goalkeeper, Etrit Berisha, has been a standout performer, but the defence often appears disjointed, failing to effectively clear threats.
Key Player Duels
The midfield battle between Torino’s Linetty and Empoli’s Nicolas Haas could be crucial. Both players embody their teams’ aspirations in maintaining control and dictating play. The attacking duel between Zapata and Caputo also promises to be intriguing, with both strikers carrying their team’s goalscoring hopes.
Tactical Dynamics and Critique
Torino’s midfield, while technically sound, needs more creativity and forward thrust. Empoli, meanwhile, must address their finishing issues to capitalise on created chances. Critically, Empoli’s coach Aurelio Andreazzoli faces scrutiny for not effectively translating his team’s competitive midfield play into goals.
The Deciding Factor: Midfield Dominance
The game’s outcome likely hinges on midfield control. Torino’s possession-based approach against Empoli’s counter-attacking strategy sets the stage for a midfield tussle that could swing the game.
Team Lineups and Expected Play
Torino’s Lineup: Milinkovic-Savic; Tameze, Buongiorno, Rodriguez; Bellanova, Linetty, Ilic, Vojvoda; Vlasic; Sanabria, Zapata
Empoli’s Lineup: Berisha; Ebuehi, Ismajli, Luperto, Cacace; Fazzini, Grassi, Maleh; Cambiaghi, Caputo, Cancellieri
Torino’s lineup suggests a formation focused on building play from the back and pushing forwards through the wings, with Zapata as the focal point in attack. Empoli’s formation, with Caputo leading, indicates a reliance on quick transitions and exploiting spaces behind the midfield.
Predictive Analysis
1. Match Outcome Prediction: Both Teams to Score Given Empoli’s recent tendency to find the net and Torino’s attacking potential, a both teams to score scenario seems plausible, despite their overall low scoring records.
2. Correct Score Prediction: Torino 1 – 1 Empoli Considering both teams’ struggles to score and their recent draw records, a 1-1 draw seems a likely outcome.
3. Goalscorer Prediction: Duvan Zapata Zapata’s recent form and pivotal role in Torino’s attack make him a strong candidate to score.
4. Corner Prediction: Torino to Get More Corners; Total Corners: Under 9 Torino’s slightly better attacking statistics suggest they might win more corners. However, given the teams’ general play styles, a lower total corner count is expected.
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