Football Italia Live Blog
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17:16 Empoli still pushing
Empoli are evidently sharper and more aggressive, getting to every ball first. They force a corner.
17:12 Cerri goal
Alberto Cerri finds the back of the net FOUR minutes into the match for his first Empoli goal 😤⁰
Stream the game for FREE on CBS Sports Golazo Network available on the @CBSSports App and @PlutoTV. 📲 pic.twitter.com/6ZIpIVOsm5
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 20, 2024
17:11 Crowd groans
Kvaratskhelia with an irritated wave after a misplaced pass.
17:07 Empoli appeals
They get down the left this time, low cross for Cerri who goes down under pressure from Juan Jesus, but nowhere near enough for a penalty. The move continues and his header is wide.
17:04 Empoli 1-0 Napoli: Alberto Cerri!
Not the start De Laurentiis wanted, but definitely the one Empoli were looking for. Long ball down the right, Gyasi stands up a cross from the by-line and Cerri allowed a header at the back post!
17:00 We have kick-off in Empoli vs. Napoli!
Empoli wear black armbands today following the death of former President Pietro Allegri at the age of 89.
16:58 A minute’s silence
A minute’s silence before kick-off in all games this weekend for Mattia Giani, the player who died during a semi-pro game last week. He had been in the Empoli youth academy.
16:55 Empoli vs. Napoli line-ups
Empoli: Caprile; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz, Luperto; Gyasi, Maleh, Grassi, Pezzella; Fazzini, Cambiaghi; Cerri
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Juan Jesus, Natan; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
16:53 Francesco Calzona
Napoli coach Francesco Calzona urges his players not to ‘put all the pressure on the defence’ and still has hope for Champions League qualification https://t.co/xQ5F4W3Lp5 #Napoli #SerieA #EmpoliNapoli #SerieATIM #Calcio
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) April 20, 2024
16:39 De Laurentiis is here
Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis is in the stands of the Stadio Castellani.
16:24 Warm-ups
You can watch the warm-ups from Empoli vs. Napoli live on the Lega Serie A YouTube Channel.
16:23 Empoli in mourning
Empoli will wear black armbands today following the death of former President Pietro Allegri at the age of 89.
He had been at the helm of the Tuscan club from the late 1980s to early 1990s.
16:21 Napoli arrive
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟯𝟯/𝟯𝟴
💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/FRvBfq1mBn
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) April 20, 2024
16:07 Napoli defence decimated
Both Amir Rrahmani and Mario Rui are suspended, with Mathias Olivera injured, but Juan Jesus returns.
Pasquale Mazzocchi was meant to start, but he was struck by a bout of flu, so Natan gets his first appearance since February 28 and has to fill in at left-back.
16:07 Team News
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia recovers to start for Napoli with a completely reshuffled defence in the trip to unpredictable Empoli https://t.co/1wEY8xDcnZ #EmpoliNapoli #SerieA #Calcio #SerieATIM
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) April 20, 2024
16:04 Empoli vs. Napoli line-ups
Empoli: Caprile; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz, Luperto; Gyasi, Maleh, Grassi, Pezzella; Fazzini, Cambiaghi; Cerri
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Juan Jesus, Natan; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games, as Napoli try to get back into the European race visiting Empoli, plus a Verona–Udinese relegation dogfight.
Week 33 began on Friday with Lazio’s 1-0 victory away to Genoa and Juventus fighting back from 2-0 down to rescue a point in Cagliari.
We kick off today at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT) at the Stadio Castellani, where Napoli aim to keep European hopes alive against relegation-threatened Empoli.
At 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), it’s a desperate head-to-head between Verona and Udinese.