Empoli consolidated their leadership with a humiliating 5-0 victory over promotion contenders Salernitana, while Cremonese crushed Pescara on Fabio Pecchia's debut.

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Empoli 5-0 Salernitana

Ricci 19 (E), Stulac 28 (E), Mancuso 35 (E), Parisi 43 (E), Olivieri 88 (E)

Pescara 0-2 Cremonese

D Ciofani 61 (C), Jaroszynski og 66 (C)

Empoli assistant manager Paolo Cozzi maintains they ‘achieved our objective’ in a 3-2 Coppa Italia defeat to Napoli. ‘We didn’t lose our identity.’

The Serie B side were forced to leave three players and coach Alessio Dionisi at the team hotel because they were in close contact with someone who had COVID-19, even though they repeatedly tested negative.

Gennaro Gattuso warns Napoli ‘need to be more balanced’ after their 3-2 Coppa Italia win over Empoli. ‘We allow too many counter-attacks.’

The Partenopei struggled to get the better of the Serie B side at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in this Round of 16 tie.

Napoli were forced to fight to the very end in a five-goal thriller, eventually pushing past Empoli 3-2 and setting up a Coppa Italia quarter-final with Roma or Spezia.

Kalidou Koulibaly was back in the starting XI for the first time since his injury last month, but Empoli saw coach Alessio Dionisi and three players - Leonardo Mancuso, Roberto Pirrello and Szymon Zurkowski – ordered into self-isolation hours before the game. They all tested negative for COVID, but were in close contact with someone who was positive.

The ASL in Naples is causing controversy again after the Empoli chief medic confirms three players were ordered to miss the Napoli game despite testing negative for COVID-19.

The order arrived in the hours before the Coppa Italia Round of 16 tie that coach Alessio Dionisi, a member of staff and players Leonardo Mancuso, Roberto Pirrello and Szymon Zurkowski would all have to self-isolate in their hotel.

Kalidou Koulibaly is back in the Napoli starting XI for the Coppa Italia Round of 16 against Empoli, who have three players ruled out by COVID.

It kicks off at 16.45 GMT at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Gennaro Gattuso doesn’t have much room when it comes to squad rotation, as his squad remains rather limited.

ANSA reports the Naples local health authority has put three Empoli players and the Tuscans’ coach Alessio Dionisi in isolation ahead of their Coppa Italia clash against Napoli.

The Serie B side face the Partenopei at the Stadio Maradona in the last 16 stage of the Coppa Italia today. It kicks off at 16.45 GMT.

According to ANSA, three Empoli players, the coach Alessio Dionisi and a member of the warehouse staff have been placed in isolation by the Naples local health authority, by order of the Ministry of Health.

Inter midfielder Christian Eriksen seems set to get a rare start against Fiorentina, as Juventus rest Cristiano Ronaldo against Genoa.

Fiorentina-Inter start the Coppa Italia show today, where Eriksen seems set to start for the Nerazzurri against the Viola in the Coppa Italia.

Fiorentina midfielder Borja Valero prepares to play against his former club at the Artemio Franchi, where both Cesare Prandelli and Antonio Conte are expected to play a 3-5-2 formation.

Empoli coach Alessio Dionisi admits it’s going to be ‘almost impossible’ against Napoli in the Coppa Italia tomorrow.

The Round of 16 tie kicks off on Wednesday at 16.45 GMT at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

“It’s going to be a very difficult game, almost impossible, but it is still the most important for us and we will give it our all,” said Dionisi.

Empoli are in Serie B and qualified for this round by beating Benevento 4-2, while the match with Brescia was decided by default due to COVID-19 cases.

Napoli forward Dries Mertens could reportedly get a few minutes already against Empoli, as the Azzurri work to have him back for the Supercoppa Italiana.

Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli reveals the Belgian striker, who continued to train partially in the group today, could get some minutes against Empoli in the Coppa Italia.

The radio station claims the idea is to give him some minutes and then continue with some more against Fiorentina on Sunday.

This way, Napoli could have Mertens in shape for the Supercoppa Italiana match against Juventus on January 20.