Mattia Destro and Anthony Mounier take on Riccardo Saponara and Massimo Maccarone in tonight’s Bologna–Empoli battle.
It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
These two minnows had been expected to struggle for safety, but have been some of the form sides in Serie A over the last few weeks.
Mattia Destro and Anthony Mounier take on Riccardo Saponara and Massimo Maccarone in tonight’s Bologna-Empoli battle.
It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
These two minnows had been expected to struggle for safety, but have been some of the form sides in Serie A over the last few weeks.
Bologna are unrecognisable since Roberto Donadoni took over from Delio Rossi, amassing 13 points in six games, more than double the amount his predecessor got in 10 rounds.
Among those results were a 2-2 draw with Roma and shock 3-2 victory over Napoli.
Empoli lost Maurizio Sarri and Mirko Valdifiori to Napoli over the summer, but replacement Coach Marco Giampaolo has been hugely impressive.
For the first time since 2007, Empoli are on a run of three consecutive top flight victories.
This fixture has been played four times in Serie A with three home victories and one draw, so Empoli are hoping to make history.
Mind you, the 2-0 result in May 2004 was Empoli’s only win in eight meetings with Bologna, home and away.
Amadou Diawara sits out a one-match ban for the hosts, while Emanuele Giaccherini, Emil Krafth and Luca Rizzo are sidelined.
Destro hopes to continue his rediscovered scoring form, supported by Mounier and Franco Brienza.
Empoli miss Levan Mchedlidze and Rade Krunic, so Manuel Pucciarelli completes the attack with Big Mac and trequartista Saponara.
Bologna: Mirante; Rossettini, Oikonomou, Gastaldello, Masina; Taider, Crisetig, Donsah; Mounier, Destro, Brienza
Empoli: Skorupski; Laurini, Tonelli, Costa, Mario Rui; Zielinski, Paredes, Buchel; Saponara; Pucciarelli, Maccarone