Serie B side Empoli have officially fired coach Cristian Bucchi following a 2-1 home defeat to Pescara.

The Tuscans narrowly failed to escape relegation from Serie A in May and were hoping to climb straight back up.

However, they have stuttered under Bucchi with only 17 points in 12 rounds and sit mid-table.

The recent form has been particularly concerning, managing just three points in the last six Serie B games.

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Ismael Bennacer has declared that he wants to become a “leader” for Milan and revealed he is studying Rossoneri predecessor Andrea Pirlo.

Bennacer only joined Milan from Empoli over the summer and is not 22 until December, but the midfielder already believes he could be the player to lift the Rossoneri.

“I feel good and I’m sorry about how that match ended [when Milan lost 2-1 to a late Lazio goal last weekend],” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

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Ismael Bennacer could get the nod for Milan’s match against SPAL tomorrow as he vows to keep his head down and be “patient”.

The former Empoli midfielder has only made three starts in Serie A for the Rossoneri this season, the last one coming in the 3-1-loss to Fiorentina a month ago.

As the fixtures are piling up for new coach Stefano Pioli, Bennacer might find himself in contention for the home game against SPAL on Thursday.

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Roma have reportedly rejected the opportunity to sign former Manchester City and England midfielder Jack Rodwell.

Roma have been faced with a serious injury crisis, which has left Jordan Veretout as their only fit and recognised central midfielder.

The Giallorossi then brought in Rodwell, plus ex-Empoli man Marcel Buchel, with a view to signing one in a bid to ease their problems.

However, Gianluca Di Marzio claims defender Gianluca Mancini impressed Coach Paulo Fonseca in the Lupi's engine room against Milan on Sunday.

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Jack Rodwell isn’t the only free agent undergoing medical tests with Roma, as Marcel Buchel is also ‘auditioning’ for a contract.

The Giallorossi are in the middle of an injury crisis, with long-term problems for Lorenzo Pellegrini, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Amadou Diawara, Bryan Cristante and Davide Zappacosta.

There is above all a lack of midfielders, so the club is going back on the market for free agents who can sign immediately rather than wait for the January transfer window.

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Empoli lost their heads at Pordenone, Chievo came back in a seven-goal thriller at Livorno and Benevento left it late with Spezia to go top.

The events at the Dacia Arena were dramatic from the start, as Empoli’s Filippo Bandinelli got himself sent off after just two minutes for a reaction foul.

Leonardo Mancuso had the chance to equalise, but ballooned a penalty over the bar.

Click here for the full Serie B section, including results, fixtures and tables.

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Mirko Valdifiori urges SPAL to ignore “negativity” against Juventus and is glad to meet up with Maurizio Sarri again.

It kicks off at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for the line-ups and LIVEBLOG.

“It is a difficult moment where the results aren’t coming and there have been a few too many injuries, but we can’t let ourselves get caught up in negativity,” the midfielder told Sky Sport Italia.

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Stefano Sensi is lighting up Inter with two goals in three Serie A games, but why did he come so close to joining Milan only to back out?

The 24-year-old Italy international is in the form of his life thanks to two goals and two assists in his first three matches in a Nerazzurri jersey.

It means Sensi has already equalled his all-time career personal best Serie A goals tally.

He made the move from Sassuolo on loan for €5m with option to buy for another €20m.

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Recently-relegated Chievo and Empoli shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Bentegodi this evening.

Click here for the full Serie B section, including results, fixtures and tables.

Visitors Empoli had taken the lead through Jacopo Dezi’s spectacular volley into the far top corner.

However, Filip Djordjevic cancelled it out with a trademark header on Davide Brivio’s cross.

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